Police 'detain' Satur Ocampo, Rep. Castro in Davao del Norte

ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro and former Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo have been detained at the police station in Talaingod, Davao Del Norte since Wednesday evening after they were allegedly attacked by unidentified men.

An information from the Rep. Castro indicated that the National Solidarity Mission (NSM), joined by  Castro and Ocampo, was allegedly blocked by elements of 56th Infantry Battalion in Sitio Igang, Barangay Palma Gil at around 8 p.m. of Wednesday.

Spikes on the road stopped the NSM convoy after two of the five vans got flat tires. Shots were allegedly fired at the NSM vehicles while the tires were being replaced.

At past 9 p.m.,  the delegation, which was composed of 79 people, as well as 29 students and 12 teachers of Lumad schools, was held and the delegates were interrogated by security forces as well as personnel from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office.

Castro said it was still unclear why they were being detained by the police.

"Ayaw pa rin kaming paalisin dito sa PNP-Talaingod police station. Practically dini-detain na kami dito. Hinahanapan pa kami ng kaso," she said.

"Sinabihan kami na as of now ay wala kaming kaso kaya sabi ko, you should release us. Illegal itong ginagawa ng mga pulis," Castro added.

According to Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary general Renato Reyes, the whole humanitarian mission was held "on the pretext that the minors with them were traveling without permit."

"Ang context, they had to rescue the students and teachers that night because their school was forcibly closed by a paramilitary group," Reyes said.

The mission aims to deliver school and food supplies in Salugpongan School in Dulyan, Barangay Palma Gil. —Anna Felicia Bajo/LBG, GMA News