DOJ OKs filing of raps vs 2 environmental activists

FILE PHOTO: DOJ logo. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has approved the filing of grave oral defamation against environmental activists Jonila Castro and Jhed Reiyana Tamano for seriously slandering the military.

Both Castro and Tamano disappeared last September 2, 2023.

On September 19, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict had a press conference and presented Castro and Tamano. During the press conference, the two maintained that they did not surrender but were abducted by the military.

READ: Activists back with kin after baring abduction

“We consider the statements of respondents to be serious slander because the circumstances of the case show that they consciously, intentionally, and on purpose waited and chose the press conference which would be held in public to air their grievance and plight,” read the resolution.

The prosecution said the two had every opportunity to disclose their abduction incident to an apolitical person from when they were abducted but did not do so.

“Respondents employed machinations and took advantage of the benevolence of the 70th Infantry Battalion and the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) to embarrass and put them in  bad light,” the resolution further stated adding that there was “deep-rooted motive on the part of Castro and Tamano “to select a public forum that would express their sentiment.”