‘Bakwit 7’ release proves raps a ‘sham’

CEBU CITY—The dismissal of charges against the four activists and three students, collectively known as “Bakwit School 7,” prove that the Red-tagging being done by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) was “a sham” and “simply wicked.”

A lawyer for the two teachers, two tribal chiefs and three students who were charged, detained and publicly vilified by officials of the NTF-Elcac said his clients might sue security forces for unjust accusing them in February of allegedly recruiting at least 19 minors and training them for the communist insurgency.

“Based on the circumstances that they went through, the possibility of filing countercharges is not remote,” said lawyer King Anthony Perez, spokesperson for the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers in Cebu.

“But we need to confer with our clients first. Whatever they want, we will do. Anything is possible,” he added.

“I hope the recent case involving the Bakwit School 7 and the police will send a message to law enforcers to stop filing trumped-up charges against activists and human rights defenders,” Perez said.

Simply ‘wicked’

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, also a lawyer, echoed Perez’s sentiments.

“The junking of the cases and the release of the unjustly imprisoned Bakwit School 7 show once again that the pernicious instigation of the NTF-Elcac, through Red-tagging and filing of trumped-up charges against innocent groups and individuals, are baseless, a sham and simply wicked,” he said on Saturday.

The lawmaker added: “This adds another glaring reason why its spokespersons, the ‘Red-tagging tag team’ of Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. and Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy should now resign or be fired for spewing vicious lies and harassing ‘lumad’ schools and their teachers.”

The Davao del Norte provincial prosecutors’ office junked the cases against volunteer teachers Chad Booc and Roshelle Porcadilla, Ata-Manobo elders Benito Bay-ao and Segundo Milong, and students Jomar Benag, Esmelito Oribawan and Moddie Monsimuy-at.

Police claimed that the seven recruited and trained tribal children to be “child warriors” of the communist New People’s Army.

‘Waste of taxpayers’ money’

Following the raid, Parlade accused the teachers of recruiting children for the communist movement while Badoy hailed the “rescue” of the children and claimed that “lumad” was a term invented by communist rebels.

The two NTF-Elcac officials have been criticized for Red-tagging several personalities in the past, including celebrities, lawmakers and, recently, the organizers of community pantries.

“For the NTF-Elcac, anyone or any institution that expresses independent thought and dares to criticize the government is a communist or terrorist. The task force is indeed a terrible waste of taxpayers’ money and should now be abolished or at the very least defunded,” he added.

Perez said the seven remained in Cebu after they were set free by the police although he declined to divulge their location for security reasons.

“They need to rest. We have yet to discuss what their next plans are. Given the situation, we need to ensure their safety,” he said.