Davao del Norte — Indigenous leaders in Talaingod have applauded the Court of Appeals (CA) for upholding the conviction of former lawmakers Satur Ocampo and France Castro, calling the decision a long-awaited victory for the Ata-Manobo community and its children.
The CA ruling affirmed the July 5 verdict of the Tagum City Regional Trial Court Branch 2, which found Ocampo, Castro, and 11 others guilty of violating Section 10(a) of Republic Act 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act. The case involved 14 Lumad minors taken during a self-styled humanitarian mission in Sitio Dulyan, Barangay Palma Gil on November 28, 2018.
IP leaders: “They lied about us”
The Ata-Manobo Indigenous Political Structure (IPS) condemned Ocampo and Castro for allegedly exploiting the community’s name and falsely presenting themselves as human rights advocates acting on behalf of Talaingod.
“They are not from Talaingod, they do not represent our people, and they violated our laws protecting our children,” the IPS said. The group insisted that the convicted individuals disregarded Indigenous self-governance systems and placed young Ata-Manobo at risk.
“This decision vindicates our people and our children,” the IPS added, urging media groups, activists, and NGOs to stop “sanitizing criminal acts with deceptive labels” and instead listen to legitimate IP leaders recognized by law.
Government, security sector welcome ruling
The Philippine Army (PA) and the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) described the ruling as a strong signal that child welfare and national security cannot be undermined by groups allegedly pushing “false and dangerous ideologies.”
Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala maintained that the minors were transported to an unsecured location, exposing them to harm.
“The overwhelming evidence shows that the minors were exposed to danger,” the PA and NTF-ELCAC’s Legal Cooperation Cluster said, adding that the police and military “rescued” the children—not the accused.
Human rights groups blast decision
Human rights advocates criticized the CA ruling as a criminalization of humanitarian work.
The Defend Talaingod 13 Network insisted the 2018 mission was a legitimate response to threats on Lumad schools during the height of Martial Law in Mindanao. Castro argued that the trip was coordinated with authorities and aimed to protect the children from paramilitary harassment.
“This is politically motivated,” Makabayan President Liza Maza said, accusing the government of siding with commercial interests pursuing ancestral lands.
Ocampo, now in his 80s, labeled the allegations “absurd” and vowed to continue his social advocacy.
A case that continues to divide
As legal battles continue, the conviction remains a flashpoint in the national discourse over:
- child protection standards in conflict-affected areas
- the role of state security forces versus humanitarian actors
- Indigenous Peoples’ rights to self-determination
- counterinsurgency policies and civic space
While government agencies stress accountability and child safety, rights advocates warn the decision sets a dangerous precedent for future solidarity missions.
For the Ata-Manobo leaders in Talaingod, however, the ruling marks a moment of vindication.
“We stood our ground because our children deserve protection,” the IPS declared. “Let the voices of Indigenous Peoples—not outsiders—define what justice means in our ancestral lands.”