Group calls for donations to raise bail of red-tagged social worker

A nongovernment organization supporting “lumad” in southern Mindanao has called for help to raise P200,000 for the bail of their social worker facing allegedly baseless charges filed by the police.

Social worker Beryl Grace Avila, executive director of the Solidarity Action Group for Indigenous Peoples and Peasants (Sagipp), asked for donations to help free Lindy Trenilla, their worker based in Davao Region.

Avila, Trenilla and four other administrators of United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) Haran-Davao were subject of an arrest warrant issued on April 21 by Davao City Regional Trial Court Judge Dante Baguio.

Exemplary

Also charged with them were UCCP Bishop Hamuel Tequis, Rev. Daniel Palicte, Ephraim Malazarte, and Jong Monzon, secretary general of Pasaka Confederation of Lumad Organizations in Southern Mindanao.

They were charged with two counts of violation of Republic Act No. 7610 or the antichild abuse law over the presence of lumad minors at the evacuation center inside the UCCP Haran compound. Bail was set at P80,000 for each of the respondents.

Trenilla was also facing frustrated murder charge by the police, which the group said was also unfounded, setting her total bail at P200,000.

Donations may be sent to Smart Pera Padala or GCash with account no. 0946-1008836. The number may also be contacted for details of the fundraiser.Avila said Trenilla’s commitment to the plights of the lumad was “exemplary,” even if this made her vulnerable to physical and mental stress.

“The poor living condition in rural areas and lack of clean water and her numerous experiences of getting into vehicular accidents while traveling to the hinterlands made her sickly,” she added.

Shocked, saddened

In 2018, Trenilla was awarded by the Philippine Association of Social Workers Inc. as one of the most outstanding social workers in the Philippines for her service and commitment in working with the lumad, especially their children.

“It is for this reason that we are shocked and saddened to hear that a kindhearted servant of the poor, Ms Trenila, has been charged with baseless allegations and false accusations, such as frustrated murder, child abuse and the like,” Avila said.

The issuance of the warrant came a month after the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) issued a freeze order on the bank deposits amounting to P600,000 and assets of UCCP Haran.

The freeze order stemmed from the AMLC’s investigation that UCCP Haran’s assets were allegedly used to finance terrorism.

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict claimed UCCP Haran administrators and their lumad advocates detained and exploited Talaingod Manobos for collecting funds to support the communist movement. —DEXTER CABALZA