MANILA, Philippines — The conviction of former Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo and incumbent ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro for child abuse shows that no one is above the law, according to the National Security Council (NSC).
Castro and Ocampo’s conviction stemmed from child abuse charges related to claims that they held minors during a solidarity mission in Talaingod, Davao del Norte, in November 2018.
READ: Satur Ocampo, France Castro guilty of child abuse – Tagum City court
“It doesn’t matter if you are prominent in society; the law is the law, and one has to be accountable for one’s actions,” NSC Secretary Eduardo Año said in a statement on Monday.
Earlier reports said the Regional Trial Court, Branch 2 in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, found Castro and Ocampo guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violating Section 10 (a) of Republic Act No. 7610.
As a result, the court sentenced all 13 respondents to four to six years imprisonment and ordered them to pay a total of P20,000 – P10,000 for civil indemnity and P10,000 for moral damages – to each of the 14 victims.
“This ruling underscores our judicial system’s commitment to uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of our citizens. It signifies a crucial step in ending the exploitation of indigenous communities and safeguarding vulnerable minors from abduction and indoctrination with divisive ideologies,” Año said.
“Such acts not only violate their rights but also threaten our nation’s peace and security,” he added.
In an earlier statement, Ocampo and Castro claimed the innocence of all the accused, adding that the lower court “wrongfully convicted” them.
“This wrongful conviction speaks of the continuing persecution of those who are helping and advocating for the rights of Lumad children and the persistent attacks on Lumad schools and communities,” they said.
“This is a clear miscarriage of justice, and we will strongly question this decision in all venues possible,” they added.