‘Lumad’ teacher tagged as NPA rebel freed from jail

DAVAO CITY — A teacher in a “lumad” (indigenous peoples) school earlier tagged as a New People’s Army (NPA) leader has been released from jail after a court in Compostela Valley province dismissed the double murder and frustrated murder filed against her.

Amelia Pond, 65, a curriculum researcher for the tribal school Salugpongan Ta’ Tanu Igkanugon in Southern Mindanao, was freed after spending a year and three months in jail, said Ruis Valle, spokesperson for Save Our Schools Network.

Police arrested Pond while she was attending an assembly of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines in Cebu City in August last year.

The arrest was based on a warrant identifying her as Adelfa Toledo, an NPA leader wanted for double murder.

The cases against Pond were dismissed after three complainants recanted their allegations and filed affidavits of desistance. —Frinston Lim