Lawmakers convicted of child abuse
A REGIONAL trial court has found a lawmaker and a former congressman guilty of child abuse for transporting 14 minors in 2018 without authority.
In a 27-page decision dated July 3, Branch 2 of the Tagum City Regional Trial Court convicted Party-list Rep. France L. Castro, former Party-list Rep. Saturnino C. Ocampo, and 11 others.
The court said Ms. Castro and her co-accused had failed to safeguard the minors from possible danger during their travel from a school in the hinterlands of Talaingod, Davao del Norte to Tagum City.
They not only exposed the children to harm or risk but also put them in danger, it said. “Due to the acts of the accused, the children experienced unnecessary risks and suffered from unsecured conditions,” acting Presiding Judge Jimmy B. Boco said in the ruling.
“This is a clear miscarriage of justice, and we will strongly question this decision in all venues possible,” Ms. Castro and Mr. Ocampo said in a joint statement. “We will appeal this decision even if it reaches the Supreme Court.”
All 13 respondents were sentenced to a jail term of four to six years and were ordered to pay the 14 minors P20,000 each.
In a separate statement, the Department of Justice (DoJ) said the accused should respect the court decision. “Any attempt to undermine public trust in our judicial process through inappropriate statements or actions will not be tolerated.” — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio