Two former political prisoners and Indigenous Peoples rights defenders have filed a joint position paper against five Philippine National Police (PNP) officers before the Office of the Ombudsman for alleged illegal arrest, detention, and other criminal and administrative violations.
Former political prisoners Julieta Gomez and Niezel Velasco lodged the document on Friday, reinforcing the initial complaint they filed last August 11.
Gomez and Velasco named five PNP officers who allegedly committed violations of Articles 180 (false testimony against a defendant), 183 (false testimony in other cases and perjury in solemn affirmation), and 269 (unlawful arrest) of the Revised Penal Code; Section 38 of Republic Act No. 10591 (liability for planting evidence); and Section 4-A of Presidential Decree 1866 as amended by RA 9516.
In a statement released by Katribu Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas, the group said the two complainants were allegedly illegally arrested in a joint military and police operation in July 2021. They were acquitted on April 8 this year due to lack of evidence.
‘Our imprisonment is part of a broader system of repression against those who speak the truth, so we will continue to stand for justice and accountability,’ Gomez said in Filipino.
‘By filing these cases, we are asserting that it is the state-including its agents and institutions-that violates our rights and should be held accountable, not the people who are fighting back,’ Velasco said in Filipino.
Aside from Katribu, Indigenous Peoples and human rights organization Sandugo joined the two in a solidarity picket outside the Ombudsman’s office during the filing of the position paper.
‘The Marcos Jr. administration’s refusal to punish corrupt and abusive officials allows impunity to persist,’ the groups said.
‘Until those responsible for illegal arrests, red-tagging, and corruption are held accountable, there will be no true justice in this country. [President] Bongbong Marcos must be held accountable for presiding over a system that criminalizes activism while protecting corruption,’ they added in Filipino.