ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro condemned the arrest of Lumad-Manobo teacher Gary Campos and called for his immediate release and the dismissal of the charges filed against him.

Castro said Campos was arrested by policemen in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur.

He was reportedly on his way to a review center to prepare for the licensure examination for teachers when he was arrested.

Campos is a volunteer teacher in a school in Tandag City under the Department of Education.

He is a product of Lumad schools Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur and Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development and finished his education at St. Theresa’s College-Tandag.

“Grabe na lang ang takot ng mga kapulisan sa mga guro na ang hangad lamang ay turuan ang kabataan sa kanilang mga komunidad na kailangan nilang arestuhin at paratangan ng mga gawa-gawang kaso ang mga volunteer Lumad teachers natin,” Castro said.

“Si Teacher Gary ay isang teacher-leader na naninindigan para sa mga karapatan ng mga Lumad sa karapatan sa edukasyon at kanilang karapatan para sa lupang ninuno. Dahil sa kanyang paninindigan, siya ay kinasuhan ng gawa-gawang kaso,” she added.

Campos is also a member of Malahutayong Pakigbisog Alang sa Sumusunod, a Lumad organization at the forefront in defending the Andap Valley Complex against large-scale coal mining.