Mom of boy massacre witness belies claim lawyer kidnapped her son

The mother of the 14-year-old Sagay massacre witness on Wednesday dismissed allegations that a human rights lawyer kidnapped her son.

At a press conference at the Commission on Human Rights central office in Quezon City, the mother said she had sought the help of human rights group Karapatan for protection after the massacre of nine farmers in Sagay town last October 20.

"Ako po 'yung nanay..., kung ano man po 'yung mga pinaratang nila na kinidnap kami, hindi po 'yun totoo. Kami po ang kusang sumama sa Karapatan para po maging safe kami," she said.

"Kung ano man po 'yung sinasabi nila sa mga balita, hindi po 'yun totoo," she added.

LOOK: The mother of the 14-year-old Sagay massacre witness dismissed allegation that her son was kidnapped by a lawyer from NUPL. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/6ihUme0mX4

— ????Anna Felicia (@annafelicia_) November 7, 2018

Attorney Katherine Panguban of the National Union of Peoples' Lawyer (NUPL) is facing kidnapping and illegal detention charges over her alleged detention of the minor.

Earlier, the boy's father filed the kidnapping and illegal detention charges against Panguban.

Panguban denied the accusation of the boy's father, noting that she was only providing legal assistance to the boy's mother, her client, to get custody of her son.

She also disclosed that the boy's rights as a minor were supposedly violated while he was in the custody of authorities in Sagay, Negros Occidental.

"Agad pong humingi ng tulong 'yung mga kamag-anak [ng bata] who was under the custody of the police. Sinamahan po natin ang ina upang mabawi ang kustodiya mula sa pulisya dahil bukod doon, malinaw na maraming paglabag ang local authorities kaugnay doon sa mga karapatan ng isang bata...," Panguban said.

"While he was under the custody of the authorities, maraming interviews ang ginawa sa kaniya, un-counseled, hindi kasama ang kaniyang ina na siyang mayroong parental authority doon sa bata." 

Meanwhile, NUPL's Attorney Josa Deinla, who now serves as Panguban's legal counsel, said the boy was formally turned-over to his mother last month.

Deinla said a turnover agreement was inked by the parents, Panguban, and social welfare officer Nehemiah Harold Mission.

"Walang sapilitang pagkuha ng mga indibidwal na labag sa kanilang loob. In fact, noong Oktubre 25 kung kailan dumating si Flor sa Negros para kunin ang kaniyang anak, may pinirmahang turnover agreement," Deinla said, adding that the NUPL is studying the next legal steps in regard to Atty. Panguban's case.

The minor was a friend of 17-year-old Marchstil Sumicad who was among the fatalities of the shooting incident that claimed the lives of nine members of the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW).

According to the boy, the victims were shot after being forced to the ground.  They were also reportedly doused with gasoline and torched. —LBG, GMA News