A National Democratic Front of the Philippines peace consultant and his four companions were acquitted of illegal possession of firearms and explosives charges by Branch 70 of the Taguig Regional Trial Court today.
The Court said government prosecutors failed to prove without reasonable doubt the charges against peace consultant Adelberto Silva, veteran union organizer Ireneo Atadero, farmer Edisel Legaspi, women’s rights activist Hedda Calderon and their driver Julio Lusania.
Collectively known as the “Sta. Cruz 5,” the activists were stopped at a checkpoint in Barangay Pagsawitan, Sta. Cruz, Laguna on October 15, 2018 while on their way to a community peace consultation.
“They were handcuffed and ordered at gunpoint to lie face down on the ground under the hot sun while the arresting officers took their vehicle. When their vehicle was returned an hour later, the arresting team had already planted a .45-caliber pistol, a rifle, a hand grenade, an improvised explosive and ammunition inside it,” a human rights report said of the five’s arrest.
Silva’s wife Sharon Cabusao-Silva told Kodao she was happy with the acquittal but expressed sadness that her husband has 10 other charges in various other courts.
Silva and Legaspi will remain at Camp Bagong Diwa as their remaining cases, such as alleged murder, are un-bailable.
Karapatan welcomed Sta. Cruz 5’s acquittal, saying they are glad that the court was able to see through the lies and inconsistencies of the prosecution witnesses’ testimonies. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)