Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 7) — Environmental activists Jhed Tamano and Jonila Castro on Tuesday went to the Department of Justice to turn in their counter-affidavit in response to the military’s perjury accusation.
“Nagpapasalamat ho kami sa lahat ng nagbibigay ng suporta sa amin. Sa kabila ng lahat ng ginagawa ng pwersa ng estado sa amin at mga environmental defenders, tuloy pa rin ang laban,” Castro said.
[Translation: We are grateful to everyone who gives us support. Despite everything that the state forces are doing to us and other environmental defenders, the fight continues.]
State forces have accused Castro and Tamano of recanting their sworn statements, now claiming that they were abducted by the military.
Lieutenant Colonel Ronnel Dela Cruz of the 70th Infantry Battalion maintained that Castro and Tamano had surrendered to authorities.
Lawyer Dino de Leon said the next hearing is set on Nov. 14 where the military and National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict are expected to file their reply.
“Malinaw naman na ang sinabi sa counter-affidavit ay totoo naman iyong abduction na nangyari sa Orion, Bataan at syempre ikinalalulungkot ni Jhed and Jonila na kinasuhan sila imbes na tulungan dahilan sa sila ay kinuha at nagkaroon ng abduction incident,” de Leon said.
[Translation: It is clear that what was said in the counter-affidavit is true that the abduction happened in Orion, Bataan and of course Jhed and Jonila regret that they were charged instead of being helped.]
The two activists were reportedly abducted by four armed men on Sept. 2 in Orion, Bataan. They denied that they voluntarily surrendered to the authorities.
“Ang katotohanan ay sila ay dinukot, sila ay pwersang sumuko, at sila ay, for more than close to two weeks sila ay pinahirapan, nakapiring sila ng more than 10 days at kasama nila ang mga armadong kalalakihang hindi nila nakikilala,” he added.
[Translation: The truth is that they were abducted, they were forced to surrender, and they were, for more than close to two weeks they were tortured, they were blindfolded for more than 10 days by armed men they did not recognize.]
Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro insisted the two are members of the New People’s Army and they deliberately lied to shame the government.
