Wanted posters put Davao militants on edge

DAVAO CITY – Progressive activists expressed alarm over the circulation of wanted posters bearing the names and photos of eight leaders of various organizations.

In a press conference held at the United Church of Christ of the Philippines (UCCP) Haran compound here Friday, Mary Ann Sapar, secretary general of Gabriela Davao said her younger brother saw the poster Thursday along Agdao Public Market here.

“My brother asked me whether I am facing new charges after he saw my picture and my name on the said poster,” she said.

The same poster was seen in San Pedro Street, said Sapar.

The posters included seven other activists namely: Hanimay Suazo, former secretary general of human rights group Karapatan; Kharlo Manano, national secretary general of Salinlahi; Sheena Duazo, secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan; United Church of Christ of the Philippines Reverend Jurie Jaime, convener of the Exodus for Justice and Peace; Rius Valle, spokesperson of Save Our Schools Network-Mindanao; Kerlan Fanagel, spokesperson of Pasaka Confederation of Lumad Organizations; and Sr. Stella Matutina of Panalipdan Mindanao.

Sapar said six of them are from Davao City, while Manano is based in Manila and Matutina is now in Germany.

The poster showed the photo of the eight leaders, and a copy of the warrant of arrest filed against them two years ago.

The charges were related to an alleged violation of Republic Act (RA) 267 or Kidnapping, Serious and Illegal Detention and RA 9208 or the Anti-trafficking in persons Act of 2003 as amended by RA 10364 or the Expanded Anti-trafficking of Persons Act of 2012 after hundreds of indigenous people from Bukidnon and Davao del Norte provinces evacuated at the UCCP Haran compound in 2015.

However, Sapar said the cases that were filed against them were already dismissed.

In a copy of the resolution from the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Manila dated July 18, 2016, the court dismissed the charges after finding that there was no deprivation of liberty against the IPs and no probable cause for the commission of the crime.