BUTUAN CITY - The recent conviction of Satur Ocampo and France Castro has been hailed as a significant victory for the indigenous communities of Mindanao, particularly those victimized by the communist New People's Army (NPA).
According to Philippines News Agency, IP Mandatory Representative of San Miguel, Surigao del Sur, Ocampo, a former party-list congressman, and Castro, an incumbent representative, were involved in establishing schools in indigenous villages which allegedly became recruitment centers for the NPA. The Regional Trial Court Branch 2 in Tagum City found Ocampo, Castro, and 11 others guilty of violating Republic Act 7610, which protects children against abuse, exploitation, and discrimination. The conviction on July 3 relates to an incident involving the transport and custody of 14 minors in Talaingod, Davao del Norte in 2018, sentencing them to four to six years in prison.
Maca detailed how the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the NPA established educational institutions like the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development and the Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur (TRIFPSS) in the towns of Lianga, Marihatag, and San Miguel. These schools, he claimed, indoctrinated children with ideologies promoting the communist movement, leading to their recruitment as combatants. Many of these young recruits, according to Maca, later perished in conflicts, surrendered, or were apprehended.
Efforts by tribal leaders, local government units, and national agencies have since led to the shutdown of these schools, with the last closures occurring in San Miguel in 2021. Maca expressed relief over the closure of these institutions, emphasizing the community's desire for educational programs that genuinely benefit their youth's future without exposing them to harmful ideologies.
The conviction is seen as an affirmation of the functioning of the country’s justice system in protecting vulnerable populations from exploitation and abuse.