Teacher arrested; groups say attempted murder charge trumped up

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Tuesday it has arrested a teacher in Surigao del Sur on the charge of attempted murder, while progressive groups denounced the allegation as trumped up. 

In a statement, the PNP said police conducted a manhunt on Sunday afternoon against 30-year-old Gary Campos, a former educator from the Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur (TRIFPSS).

Campos was nabbed by Tandag City police by virtue of a warrant of arrest dated June 11, 2021, issued by a judge in Bayugan City. The Tandag police also claimed that Campos was among the top 10 most wanted persons in the area.

Kabataan party-list group and Save Our Schools (SOS) Network denounced the arrest, saying the charge was made up against Campos, a Lumad Manobo and an environmental defender.

Campos, the groups said, had been on his way to a review facility to prepare for a licensure examination when he was arrested.

“This is yet another attempt by state agents to repress Lumad youth who have been proactive in giving back to their communities. Even after his administration has ended, Duterte's terror persists and has been passed down to the current, including, among other things, extensive trumped up charges, unlawful detentions, and other human rights violations,” the Save Our Schools Network said.

Kabataan party-list also said Campos was among the Surigaonons who were defending the Andap Valley Complex from foreign and large-scale coal mining.

“Patunay lamang ito na nagpapatuloy pa rin ang panunupil at panggigipit ng estado sa ilalim ng administrasyon ni Marcos Jr. Nakikiisa ang KABATAAN PARTYLIST sa panawagang buwagin na ang NTF-ELCAC at pagtigil sa mga galamay ng estado ang pag-atake sa mga environmental defenders,” Kabataan said.

(This is proof that state repression and harassment continues under the Marcos Jr. administration. KABATAAN PARTYLIST joins the call to abolish the NTF-ELCAC and stop the state from attacking environmental defenders.)

For their part, PNP said Campos was "duly informed" of his constitutional rights when he was arrested.

“We continue to implement arrests in accordance with court orders in our pursuit to actively fulfill our duties as law enforcers. We ensure that due process is observed in serving the warrant of arrest to the subject,” PNP officer-in-charge Police Lieutenant General Vicente Danao Jr. said. — Giselle Ombay/BM, GMA News