2 activists indicted for oral defamation

MANILA, Philippines — Charges of grave oral defamation have been recommended against two women activists, who were reported seized by alleged military men in Orion, Bataan last year.

The charges against Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano stemmed from their statements that “tend to cause dishonor, discredit and contempt” upon the military, state prosecutors said yesterday.

In a 15-page resolution, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said it found probable cause to indict Castro and Tamano for issuing “contradictory” statements at a press conference and in their signed affidavits.

In September last year, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict announced in a press conference that Castro and Tamano, who were reported missing, had surrendered to the Army in Bulacan.

The task force said the activists signed affidavits admitting that they left the communist movement.

In a subsequent press conference, the task force presented the activists, who were supposed to confirm the contents of their affidavits.

Instead of confirming, Castro and Tamano accused the military of abduction and coercion. They said they were forced to sign the affidavits after they were kidnapped on Sept. 2.

State prosecutors said they consider Tamano and Castro’s statements to be serious slander as “they consciously, intentionally and on purpose” waited for the press conference to be conducted in public to express their grievances.

They said the activists took advantage of the benevolence of the military to embarrass and put it in a bad light.

The prosecutors rejected the respondents’ claims that they executed their affidavits under duress, saying they were assisted by lawyers from the Public Attorney’s Office.

Representatives of the Commission on Human Rights were allowed to visit and talk to them, state prosecutors said.

The DOJ dismissed the complaint of perjury filed by the military against the women.

In a statement, Tamano and Castro’s lawyer, Dino de Leon, said he would appeal the prosecutors’ decision.

Tamano and Castro filed a writ of amparo and protection orders against government officials before the Supreme Court last year.

They said they were walking in Orion, Bataan on Sept. 2 when they were dragged into a vehicle by men who allegedly introduced themselves as soldiers.