Police file kidnapping, trafficking charges vs Satur, party-list solon

MANILA, Philippines — Former Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro were booked on kidnapping and human trafficking charges on Friday morning by the Davao Police Regional Office.

Ocampo, Castro and 70 others were arrested on Thursday and accused of transporting minors without parental permission.

LOOK | Former Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro undergo booking procedure after being charged of kidnapping and human trafficking for transporting 14 minors from Talaingod, Davao del Norte.

???? Chief Insp. Jason Baria, PRO-11 pic.twitter.com/Jt1DWZJgNm

— ONE News PH (@onenewsph) November 30, 2018

READ: Satur, Castro, 70 others held for 'child trafficking' in Davao del Norte

Ocampo—president of Bayan Muna party-list and a former member of Congress—and Castro were in Talaingod town on a humanitarian mission when they were arrested, a member of the ACT party-list said.

According to a statement posted on Facebook by Rep. Antonio Tinio (ACT party-list) on Thursday, the mission was stopped at a roadblock. "The solidarity mission convoy was attacked by men believed to be members of the paramilitary group known as Alamara," Tinio said.

Alamara is a paramilitary group that human rights groups have linked to attacks on indigenous peoples' communities in the province.

The Save Our Schools Network said Ocampo and Castro were on a mission to rescue school children and teachers evacuating from a militarized community.

The SOS called for the release of those arrested in Talaingod and that they "should not be further victims of trumped up charges."

Last August, Ocampo was among four former lawmakers charged by the Palayan Regional Trial Court for murder. Ocampo, former Gabriela Rep. and anti-poverty chief Liza Maza, Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teodoro Casiño, and Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano, slammed the arrest warrants then as a form of government harassment.