By The Department of Justice or DOJ filed a case of ‘slander’ and ‘grave oral defamation’ against two activists, Jhed Tamano and Jonila Castro, also known as Orion 2. “We consider the statements of respondents to be serious slander because the circumstances of the case show that they consciously, intentionally, and on purpose waited and chose the press conference which would be held in public to air their grievance and plight,” the DOJ said.
It can be noted that Tamano and Castro were the ones who exposed, in a press conference called by the state forces on September 2023, that they were kidnapped by the military themselves, tortured, and forced to surrender as rebels. It can also be noted that the activists then were preparing for a relief operation and consultation with the community on the reclamation in Manila Bay.
In a joint statement, Tamano and Castro condemned the DOJ’s decision to file a case against them, saying that “the charges imposed are harassment to destroy morale, intimidate those who want to fight for rights, and silence. This is just one of the many forms of repression and violation of our right to express opposition to anti-people policies”.
Tamano and Castro call on the DOJ to reconsider their case. Moreover, they also call on the Supreme Court to issue an action on their petition for Writ of Amparo and Habeas Data. Lastly, they also call on other fabricated cases against activists like them./PT
