SOS Network condemns arrest of missionary

Save our Schools network strongly condemns the arrest of Amelia Pond, a coordinator of Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP) last August 18, 2016, during which she was made to admit that she was a murder suspect.

Board of Save our Schools Network, Luzviminda Ilagan in a press conference Saturday said that their group deeply condemns the Pond’s arrest which she alleged that was done in an illegal manner.

“We really condemn the incident especially us, the board of the Salugpungan schools. Apparently, the harassment and attacks in schools and teachers is still continued,” Ilagan said.

Ilagan said that the Pond was illegally arrested and was forced to admit that she is Adelfa Toledo, who was tagged for murder.

“These are all trumped up charges, which still

ironically exists even after the social development Summit conducted last July 17-18 where issues of education and protection of lumad schools was tackled,” Ilagan said in vernacular.

“There seems to be a disconnect because it was well planned, our call to support lumad schools was carefully laid, but the military and the Criminal Detection and Investigation Group has also their own agenda,” Ilagan added.

Ilagan said that Pond came from an assembly of rural missionaries in Cebu when her taxi was blocked by the CIDG, and that officials sneakily placed an ID of Adelfa Toledo on Pond’s pocket just to make the arrest legal.

Ilagan said that RMP has long supported the SOS and that they are also the main pillars of the Salugpongan Schools.

Spokesperson of the Save our Schools network also said that deep condemnation to the incident, this is from the fact that teachers in schools are still being subject of attacks, when they are doing their best efforts to teach in communities of Indigenous Peoples.

Valle said that Pond was a Martial Law victim and was now once again in jail for the trump up charges filed against her.

“Dako kaayo ang pagkondena sa SOS, kay bag-o lang mi nakigistorya kay President Duterte nga after State of the Nation Address, ang iyang giingon sa amoa nga dili nami himuon targets sa forces. Nakita namo diri na nagapadayon pa gihapon ang Oplan Bayanihan( The SOS really condemns this (arrest) because we had talked with the President Duterte after the State of the Nation Address and he told us that we will not become targets anymore. We saw that Oplan Bayanihan still exists),” Valle said.

He said that the case charges of serious illegal detention filed against them, the Haran 15, was just dismissed.

The irony is that the environment is really open for peace talks and there are still people who want to sabotage these,” Valle said. KVC were guns slipped inside the prison. There were also parties being held every night with live bands and liquor flowing freely. Even women were allowed to get in and out of the prison for the vice lords’ entertainment.

He insisted that NBP was where shabu was being “cooked” and that it went on “unbridled and unhampered”.

These drug trafficking happened because de Lima allowed it, Duterte said.

“All of these could have only happened if there was a go signal from the head department, which is the secretary,” Duterte said referring to de Lima.

According to Duterte, there were pictures that would prove that de Lima is connected with drug syndicates.

“And why is it during the birthday of one high profile inmate, you went ahead inside with your driver and celebrating with the rest of the inmates and party inside the prison,” Duterte questioned de Lima’s presence in the event.

If the investigation commenced, Duterte issued a stern warning to the officials of NBP to tell the truth if they are asked.

“Be prepared to be charged for what is serious negligence of duty, if not I hope it is not that you are in conspiracy with prisoner,” he said.

He also threatened to revisit the Napoles case that would indict de Lima for corruption.

“Wait until we revisit the Napoles case, secretary or senator de Lima, and I assure you, you will be horrified,” he said.

The President also advised the Senator, who will lead the investigation amid the extrajudicial killings.

“You are in a bind. Think it over seriously. Do not open your mouth unnecessarily,” he said.