Court scraps rebellion case vs North Luzon 7

By Karlston Lapniten and Aldwin Quitasol

BANGUED, Abra - Seven activists who were slapped with rebellion or insurrection charges expressed relief after a local court here granted their motion to quash the charges against them.
    In an order issued on May 11, 2023, Judge Corpuz Alzate of the First Judicial Region, Regional Trial Court, Branch 2 in Bangued, Abra gave favorable decision to the motion of the activists to declare the charges against them void for lack for probable cause.
    The judge also ordered all warrants against them in connection with the case be quashed.
    In May 11 order, Judge Alzate granted the motion to quash filed by activists Sarah Abellon-Alikes, Jennifer Awingan, Windel Bolinget, Florence Kang, Lourdes Jimenez, Nino Oconer and Stephen Tauli, questioning the validity of the information on the complaint.
    The charges stemmed from an ambush in Malibcong, Abra on October 2022 where two Army soldiers were killed by alleged members of the communist rebel New People Army (NPA).
    State prosecutors claimed that two survivors recognized in a “Rogue Gallery” persons identified as Jovencio Tangbawan and Salcedo Dumayom Dappay as among the suspects.
    The rebellion charge included the seven for being alleged officers of the rebel unit where the two belong.
    However, the state prosecution failed to rebut the motion to wuash jointly filed by Rene Cortes Law and Jose Molintas Law, who stood as counsels for the seven.
    In deciding, the court stated the seven were never identified by the survivors.
    It also ordered the seven to be excluded from the information filed and ordered all warrants of arrest issued against them in connection to the case be cancelled.
    “The decision of the trial court is but another knot in the long line of similar fabricated cases filed against activists and eventually dismissed because they are that – fabrications,” said Baguio lawyer Rene Cortes, who is the counsel for the seven.
    Instead of “wasting resources” on forging bogus cases, the government should focus its efforts in curbing the rampant corruption and abuses perpetrated by government officials, said Cortes.
    While the state prosecutors have option to appeal the decision, Cortes is confident that the same will be denied since "there is not even a strand of evidence to link" the activists to the armed encounter.
    Windel Bolinget, in a statement said the granting of their motion was a victory in continuing the struggle of the people for peace, justice and freedom. "All warrants of arrest issued against us in connection with the case were ordered quashed," he stated.
    Bolinget and the accused others were charged by the military with rebellion on December 2022.
    One of the "Northern Luzon 7", Jennifer Awingan was arrested at her residence in Barangay Pinsao, Baguio City last Jan 20 and brought to the Abra Provincial Jail. 
    On February 20203, all seven activists were allowed by the court to post bail.
    Bolinget expressed their gratitude to their lawyers and to the communities, allies, partners, and friends who he said continue to defend and in solidarity with them, their families, and organization against State political persecution and impunity. They also thanked the court for considering their motion. 
    "As we have repeatedly said before, the case of rebellion/insurection against us is baseless and fabricated," said Bolinget.
    He added that they hoped this will be the last of trumped-up charges against all activists.