(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte backed the arrest of former Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, Rep France Castro and several others, saying the “police did the right thing…”
“You know an ordinary person, lalo na kung senador ka, you must be aware that you cannot remove children from one community to another without the consent of the parents..That is actually kidnapping,” Duterte said.
According to the President, “they might have been motivated by all of the good intentions in the world.”
“But there is the intent which is criminal in bringing out and transferring children from one area to another especially (and) eventually using them (children) in their struggle,” he said, adding that Bayan Muna, Gabriela and Kilusang Mayo Uno were actually “fronts” for the Communist Party of the Philippines.
Ocampo, Castro and several others were intercepted by government security forces in Talaingod, Davao on Nov. 28 and were charged with trafficking and for violation of the law protecting minors.
But Ocampo’s group insisted they were merely rescuing minors who had been affected by the closure of a community center by a paramilitary group at that time.
A court has ordered their release after posting bail.