DOJ asked to dismiss illegal detention raps vs. rights workers in Haran case

Human rights advocates on Friday met Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II to discuss what they claimed were "trumped up" charges of kidnapping and illegal detention of indigenous people at the Haran Evacuation Center at the United Church of Christ of the Philippines compound in Davao City.

The rights workers are facing charges after they allegedly kept indigenous people at the evacuation center against their will.

The 15 respondents, however, claim they gave shelter to the Lumad to keep them from being harmed by alleged militia men.

They were originally cleared by the Davao Provincial Prosecutor's Office, but the DOJ reversed the findings and ordered them criminally charged before the Davao City Regional Trial Court Branch 10.

The Lumad leaders said they wanted the prosecutor's office's findings reinstated, especially after warrants of arrest have already been issued against them by RTC Branch 10 Judge Retrina E. Fuentes in May. The Lumad, however, said they only learned of their warrants of arrest late last June.

Ordered arrested were Rev. Jurie Jaime, Bayan Southern Mindanao Region (SMR)secretary general Sheena Duazo, Karapatan SMR secretary general Hanimay Suazo, Ryan Laniba, Tony Salubre, Jimboy Maciano, Gabriela Davao secretary general Mary Ann Sapar, Jaja Encosio, Pedro Arnado, Pasaka SMR chairperson Kerlan Fanagel, Sr. Stella Matutina, Sr. Restita Miles, Isidro Andao, Kharlo Manano, and Save Our Schools (SOS) Network spokesperson Rius Valle.

Several groups have tagged the military in the recent killings and other atrocities against the indigenous people in Mindanao. Some of the killings include those in Davao City, where a tribal leader and two church workers were killed in June last year, in Bukidnon where five Lumad people were killed, and in Lianga, Surigao del Sur, where three were killed on September 1 last year.

The Lianga killings were allegedly perpetrated by Mahagat/Bagani Force, a paramilitary group allegedly trained and equipped by the Armed Forces. The military said the group is not under its command and control.

The Philippine Army has said the Lumad deaths were the result of a tribal conflict between groups affiliated with the New People's Army and a group that is against the communist rebels. —NB, GMA News