THE PHILIPPINE National Police office in Central Visayas appealed the resolution of the provincial prosecutor of Davao del Norte dismissing the charges against the seven Lumad teachers and volunteers who were arrested in an operation in a Lumad school in February.

Lieutenant Colonel Ehdel Pereira, acting chief of PNP Central Visayas, said the Anti-Kidnapping Group refiled at least three motions for reconsideration before the Office of the Davao del Norte Provincial Prosecutor.

“Allow me to stress in the past resolution, the fiscal has already found that there are crimes committed although they are saying that they have no jurisdiction. According to them, the jurisdiction is in Cebu City or Davao City. But in our MR, we stressed that they have jurisdiction,” Pereira said.

The provincial prosecutor of Davao del Norte threw out the charges against Chad Booc, Segundo Lagatos Melong, Benito Bay-ao, Moddie Mansimoy-at, Esmelito Oribawan, Roshelle Mae Porcadilla and Jomar Benag. They were charged with serious illegal detention, violation of the Anti-Child Abuse Law, Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, and kidnapping.

Last month, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict bared plans to file new charges against the seven.

Atty. Marlon Bosantog, NTF-ELCAC spokesperson for legal affairs and Indigenous People’s concern, clarified that there were findings in the prosecutor’s resolution that the elements of the crimes were actually committed.

Save Our Schools Network denounced the alleged continued harassment and intimidation of indigenous peoples.

“Imbes na ibuhos ng rehimeng Duterte ang pondo sa mga ahensiyang umaatake sa karapatan sa edukasyon ng mga katutubo ay dapat ibuhos na lamang ang atensiyon sa pagresolba sa pandemya at pagtigil ng militarisasyon sa kanayunan. Dapat ding agarang mapanagot ang mga nasa likod ng iligal na pag arestong ito,” SOS said in a statement.