Environmentalists protest complaints filed vs. Jhed Tamano, Jonila Castro

Environmentalists on Tuesday went to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to protest the complaints filed by the military against Jhed Tamano and Jonila Castro, the activists who said they were abducted by government soldiers.

Some of the placards carried by the activists called for justice for Tamano and Castro, while others accused the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) of being liars.

There were also signs that called for environmental protection.

“Ang masasabi po natin, itong pagkakaso po kila Jhed at Jonila na wala pong— ito po ay isang porma lamang ng panunupil sa kagaya nating kabataang tanggol-kalikasan,” Mela Llamado, the chairperson of the Agham Youth UP Manila, said in an interview with the media.

(What we can say is that the complaint against Jhed and Jonila is a form of repression against young environmental defenders.)

“’Yung sinasabi po ng NTF-ELCAC na binaliktad daw po sila nila Jhed and Jonila noon, pinabubulaanan po natin kasi wala pong iba pang mas credible na statement doon sa statement na nilabas po nila Jhed at Jonila dahil sinabi nila yon kahit po sila ay humaharap sa mga threats sa kanilang buhay,” she added.

(We are refuting what the NTF-ELCAC said about Jhed and Jonila changing their statement because there is nothing more credible than the statement given by Jhed and Jonila because they said that even though there have been threats against their lives.)

The protesters were from the Kalikasan People’s Network for Environment, the Environmental Defenders Congress, Advocates of Science and Technology for the People, Karapatan, Promotion of Church People’s Response, Bagong Alyansa Makabayan, and AKAP Ka Manila Bay.

While the protest is ongoing, the DOJ held the first preliminary investigation on the complaints filed by Philippine Army's 70th Battalion (70IB) Commander Ronnel Dela Cruz.

Castro and Tamano did not personally attend and were represented by a lawyer.

The NTF-ELCAC previously claimed that the two surrendered to the 70IB in Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan in September.

It presented them at a press conference, ostensibly to debunk reports of their abduction. However, the activists said they had indeed been abducted by the military.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro initially said perjury and slander complaints were filed against Tamano and Castro at the Department of Justice. However, when sought for confirmation later, he said the complaints may be slander or grave oral defamation.

For their part, Tamano and Castro filed a petition for a writ of amparo and protection orders against several government officials before the Supreme Court in September. — BM, GMA Integrated News