Taguig court convicts child rights defender Ujano of rebellion

An activist who was at the forefront of the campaign to draft and pass a law on violence against women and children has been sentenced to up to 17 years of imprisonment for rebellion.

In a 56-page decision, the Taguig City Regional Trial Court Branch 266 found Maria Salome Crisostomo, also known as Maria Salome Crisostomo-Ujano, guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of rebellion. She was sentenced to imprisonment from 10 years to 17 years and four months.

According to the court, prosecution witnesses recognized Ujano during their supposed encounters in Quezon in 2005. 

“Positive identification where categorical and consistent without any showing of ill motive on the part of the eyewitness testifying on the matter, prevails over a denial which, if not substantiated by clear and convincing evidence, is negative and self-serving evidence,” the court said.

The court said Ujano’s defense that she was elsewhere during the attacks were not supported by clear and convincing evidence.  

“This Court is not convinced with accused Ujano’s alibi. Time and again, the Supreme Court held that alibi and denial are inherently weak defenses and must be brushed aside when the prosecution has sufficiently and positively ascertained the identity of the accused,” it said.

Though the court said it is convinced of Ujano’s guilt, it pointed out that the prosecution failed to prove that Ujano acted as leader of the New People’s Army during their encounters with state forces and that she gave command to other members of their group.

Ujano, who was arrested in November 2021, has been the National Coordinator of the Philippine Against Child Trafficking since 2008. She was also a part of the Women’s Crisis Center from 1990-2007 and served as its executive director for six years.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, meanwhile, lauded the prosecutors over the decision.

“We stood united once again in the face of sinister terrorists and conquered this menace by our resilience and unity. We will never back down against such evil who continue to destabilize the government and sow discord and division,” he said.

Direct attack

Salinlahi Alliance for Children's Concerns has slammed the conviction, saying it was a “flagrant injustice and a direct attack” on advocates for children’s rights in the country.

“The conviction of Ujano does not only undermine the vital work she has done but also serves as a grave affront to the protection of Filipino children's rights,” it said in a statement.

“This unjust verdict sends a chilling effect across the community of child rights advocates, perpetuating an atmosphere of fear and silence that endangers the very efforts to safeguard the welfare of Filipino children,” it added.

The group further said the ruling was in contrast to a recent decision of the Supreme Court that said red-tagging and guilt by association threaten a person’s right to life, liberty, or security.

“Salinlahi demands the Taguig trial court to immediately overturn this unjust verdict and dismiss all baseless charges against Ujano. Additionally, we call on President Ferdinand Marcos to respect human rights in the Philippines, ensuring that advocates for vulnerable populations can work without fear of persecution,” the group said. —KBK, GMA Integrated News