By ILOILO CITY–A fter more than a year of imprisonment based on fabricated charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives the Iloilo Regional Trial Court Branch 76 ordered the release upon bail of Rodolfo Diaz or Tay Dolping last October 28. The court’s decision is based on weak evidence against Tay Dolping.
Despite the non-bailable case filed against Tay Dolping, the court allowed him to post bail based on the weak evidence against him. Tay Dolping was among those arrested following the raid conducted by combined military forces of Calinog, Iloilo and Tapaz, Capiz last December 30, 2020. Also on December 30, 2020 fabricated charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives were filed against 16 individuals. It was during the conduct of this raid when the police and military forces killed 9 leaders of the Tumandoks, including TUMANDUK chairperson Alan Giganto.
Before the bloody raid in their community, the tumandoks were victims of harassment and red-tagging by military forces. They were also accused of supporting the NPA due to their opposition to the Jalaur Mega Dam Project which will be constructed in their ancestral lands.
Rev. Msgr. Oso said that despite his age, Tay Dolping did not enter a plea bargain which is an admission of guilt for a lesser penalty, since Tay Dolping stands on his innocence of any wrongdoing.
