MANILA – Two indigenous peoples (IP) rights defenders are seeking criminal liability of the police officials responsible for their arrest and detention for nearly four years. 

Manobo woman Julieta Gomez and IP rights defender Niezel Velasco filed a position paper before the Office of the Ombudsman on November 14, 2025 against the Philippine National Police (PNP) officials behind their arrest.

“These are not just criminal acts but also constitute grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service, oppression and grave abuse of authority,” the position paper reads.

Gomez and Velasco called on the Ombudsman to hold the following officials liable, praying for their outright dismissal from service and forfeiture of benefits due to following complaints:

• Liability for planting evidence (Republic Act 10591) and unlawful arrest (Article 269, Revised Penal Code): Jehrome D. Chico, Mary Grail A. Waclin, Magdalena D. Lipata, Jhon Ronoel J. Conde, and Julius Edward L. Mahinay.
• False testimony against a defendant (Article 180, Revised Penal Code): Jehrome D. Chico, John Ronoel J. Conde, and Julius Edward L. Mahinay.
• False testimony in other cases (Article 183, Revised Penal Code): Mary Grail A. Waclin, Magdalena D. Lipata, Jhon Ronoel J. Conde, and Julius Edward L. Mahinay.

“The government uses the law against the activists like us to silence our clamor for change,” said Gomez in Filipino. “We are here to expose how they ransacked our boarding house, planted the evidence, and frame us as terrorists.”

Velasco stressed that accountability must be demanded from the state itself. “In our filing of the charges, we register that the government should be accountable, along with its agents and institutions, who violate our human rights.”

The filing of position paper is supplemental to the countercharges filed by Gomez and Velasco before the Ombudsman last August 11, 2025.

The two defenders were illegally arrested on July 16, 2021, in a joint military and police operation. They were charged with murder, attempted murder, and illegal possession of firearms and explosives, which were dismissed by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 91 on April 8, 2025. 

“A careful examination of the police officers’ actions prior to the arrest leaves no room for doubt — they fully anticipated finding the firearms, ammunition and explosives,” said the Quezon City RTC Branch 91 in its decision.

The Court underscored that the level of preparedness of the apprehending officers were not expecting a routine arrest, but rather, they were already anticipating the discovery of a contraband. This raised questions for the court especially that the police arrested them without a search warrant.

“The discrepancies in the testimonies of the arresting officers further erode their credibility. There were contradictions as to who provided the accused’s identities, who knocked, entered, and effected the arrest, and how the inventory of the alleged seized items was conducted,” the decision noted.

Other notable findings by the court include weapons and explosives were government-issued, police officers claimed that the complainants were already under supposed military surveillance, and the failure of the prosecution to present barangay officials who allegedly witnessed the inventory of seized items.

“Our detention is part of the broader system of repression against those who speak the truth and stand for justice and accountability,” Gomez said.

Both activists were joined by indigenous peoples and human rights organizations Sandugo and Katribu, holding a picket outside the Ombudsman to express their solidarity and demand justice for all victims of political persecution.

Amirah Lidasan, co-chairperson of Sandugo, emphasized that Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla is the head of the Department of Justice at the height of attacks against indigenous peoples rights defenders. “We need you to act now,” Lidasan said, challenging the Ombudsman.

“They were in front of you: In Malacañang, Office of the Vice President, Senate, and Congress. The evidence of their crimes is clear but none of them are detained now,” said Lidasan in Filipino. “What are the police doing? They’re going after activists, planting firearms, explosives, and bullets. They’re going after us for helping our fellow Moro and indigenous peoples to assert their lands and rights.”

There are more than 700 political prisoners in the country. Most of them were also charged with the same cluster and pattern of charges once faced by Velasco and Gomez.

“Julieta and Niezel were not the only victims. In fact, many political prisoners are currently detained for the planting of evidence by the same police officers who arrested them,” said Danilo dela Fuente of Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA) during the program.

For more than a decade, the Philippines continues to be the deadliest country in Asia for indigenous peoples, farmers, and activists advocating for land rights, according to international human rights organizations Global Witness and PAN Asia Pacific.

“As long as the people behind our illegal arrest, red-tagging, and even corruption remain free, there will be no justice in this country,” said Katribu in a statement.

Furthermore, Katribu said that this is another step in the long struggle for justice of all political prisoners and human rights defenders who continue to face criminalization for their advocacy. (RVO)