Statement of former Deputy Speaker Lorenzo ‘Erin’ Tañada on the arrest of Rep. France Castro, Ka Satur Ocampo, 17 lumads.
Rep. France Castro and Ka Satur Ocampo did what they had to do. I would do the same if faced with the same situation. It was a humanitarian mission by kind individuals to bring children out of harm’s way, something that the President had done many times in the past. How can a Christian act be deemed a crime? No harm was done, no injustice committed, so why are they being hauled off to court? Is acting in defense of children turned from a national obligation into a national security offense?
I am confident that the charges against Ka Satur Ocampo and Congresswoman Franz Castro will be thrown out by Mindanao judges in the mold of Judge Soriano of Makati and Judge Rodolfo Azucena Jr of Caloocan who will uphold the law without fear or favor.
Free France, Ka Satur, and the 17 lumads who are still being held in Davao del Norte prosecutor’s office.
Statement of former Deputy Speaker Lorenzo ‘Erin’ Tañada on the arrest of Rep. France Castro, Ka Satur Ocampo, 17 lumads.
Ginawa nila Rep. France Castro at Ka Satur Ocampo ang kailangan nilang gawin. Hindi ako magdadalawang-isip na gawin iyon kung malalagay ako sa ganoong sitwasyon. Isa itong makataong gawain ng mga may mabubuting puso para iligtas ang mga bata sa kapahamakan, isang bagay na maaaring ginawa rin ng Pangulo dati. Paanong ang isang gawaing Kristiyano ay ituturing na krimen? Walang nangyaring masama, walang paglabag sa batas na ginawa kaya’t bakit sila kinakasuhan sa korte? Ang pagtatanggol ba sa mga kabataan na isang pambansang tungkulin ay itinuturing nang paglabag sa batas?
Nananalig akong mapapawalambisa ng mga hukom sa Mindanao ang mga kasong isinampa kina France, Ka Satur. Sana’y sundan ng hukom ang yapak nila Judge Soriano ng Makati na nagpawalambisa sa kaso nila Trillanes at ni Judge Rodolfo Azucena Jr. na nagsakdal sa mga pumatay kay Kian. Nagdesisyon sila para itaguyod ang batas ng walang takot at kinikilingan.
Palayain si France, Ka Satur, at ang 17 pang ngayon ay nakakulong sa Davao del Norte prosecutor’s office.