Manila: A ranking official of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) reiterated the government's commitment to protecting Indigenous Peoples (IP) children from recruitment and influence of communist insurgents. Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr., the executive director of NTF-ELCAC, emphasized this commitment on the occasion of the second anniversary of the landmark judgment by the Tagum City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 2 in the Talaingod case.
According to Philippines News Agency, the court's ruling on July 15, 2024, found former Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro, and 11 others guilty of violating Section 10(a) of Republic Act 7610, which is the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act. The court sentenced the 13 individuals to up to six years in jail and ordered them to pay civil indemnity and moral damages to each of the affected minors. This verdict followed an incident where the group conducted a "solidarity mission" by taking 29 Lumad children and teachers from their indigenous community school in Talaingod, Davao del Norte, without parental consent.
Torres highlighted the ruling as a major legal victory for the protection of indigenous children and the upholding of the rule of law. He stated that while the convicted parties are still pursuing legal remedies, the judgment remains a significant affirmation that justice is achieved through evidence, due process, and the faithful application of the law.
The NTF-ELCAC executive officer clarified that the anniversary marks not a celebration of personal convictions but a triumph of justice. He paid tribute to the courage of indigenous parents who sought justice through the courts and praised the institutions that upheld their constitutional duty to protect children. He stressed that the welfare of Filipino children should never be compromised for political or ideological purposes.
Torres added that the true beneficiaries of this legal victory are the children themselves. He emphasized that every Filipino child has the right to safety, family care, and an education free from abuse and coercion, as guaranteed by the Constitution and the laws of the Republic. He also pointed out that the Talaingod case serves as a reminder of the profound public trust placed in educational institutions.
He further noted that the controversies involving the Salugpungan schools underscore the need for vigilance against any credible allegations of unlawful conduct or exploitation of children. Torres asserted that all learning institutions in the country must be spaces where knowledge, critical thinking, and democratic participation thrive peacefully, without the unlawful recruitment, coercion, or radicalization of students.
