The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has reiterated the government’s vow to protect indigenous children from being recruited or influenced by communist rebels.
The declaration was made on Monday by NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr., coinciding with the second anniversary of the Tagum City Regional Trial Court Branch 2 decision regarding the Talaingod case issued on July 15, 2024.
In that ruling, former Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo, ACT Teachers Representative France Castro, and 11 others were convicted of violating Section 10(a) of Republic Act 7610, the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act. The 13 individuals received prison sentences of up to six years and were ordered to pay moral damages and civil indemnity to the affected minors.
The convictions arose from a “solidarity mission” where the group transported 29 Lumad students and instructors from an indigenous school in Talaingod, Davao del Norte, without securing parental consent.
Torres hailed the verdict as a monumental step forward in defending indigenous children’s rights and reinforcing the rule of law.
”While the convicted parties continue to avail themselves of the legal remedies afforded under our judicial system, the judgment stands as a landmark affirmation that justice is pursued through evidence, due process, and the faithful application of the law,” he said.
He noted that the anniversary focuses on honoring the judicial outcome and the pursuit of accountability rather than cheering for the convictions.
”It is a tribute to the courage of indigenous parents who sought justice through our courts and to the resilience of institutions that upheld the constitutional duty to protect children. It sends a clear message that the welfare of Filipino children can never be subordinated to political objectives or ideological agendas,” he said.
Torres maintained that the primary victors in the case are the youth whose legal rights have been vindicated.
”Every Filipino child—whether indigenous or not—has the right to grow up in safety, to remain under the care and guidance of family, and to receive an education free from abuse, exploitation, coercion, or unlawful manipulation. These rights are guaranteed not by ideology, but by the Constitution and the laws of the Republic. The Talaingod case also serves as a lasting reminder that educational institutions carry a profound public trust,” he stressed.
He concluded that the controversy surrounding the Salugpungan schools highlights the necessity of investigating claims of student exploitation.
”The same principle applies to every learning institution in the country: schools and universities must remain places where knowledge, critical thinking, and democratic participation flourish peacefully—not places where students are unlawfully recruited, coerced, radicalized or encouraged toward violence,” he added.