The Cagayan Regional Trial Court (RTC) acquitted 70-year old indigenous people’s rights activist Myrna Cruz-Abraham of a 2007 frustrated murder charge.
The RTC’s Branch 9 in a decision released Monday said the prosecution failed to prove Cruz-Abraham and 18 other co-respondent’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
The elderly activist was arrested last January 27 in San Rafael, Bulacan while on some domestic errands with her daughter and granddaughter.
Cruz-Abraham was accused of participating in an ambush that killed Barangay chairperson Ernesto Belen in March 6, 2007 in Cagayan province.
The Court said the prosecution witnesses’ testimonies were “devoid of any indication of accused’s participation in the alleged March 6, 2007 incident.”
The Court also dismissed allegations of her participation in a supposed January 15, 2007 planning of the ambush as prosecution witnesses themselves denied either knowing the accused or having supplied her name as one of the perpetrators of the crime.
A very happy day
Cruz-Abraham’s family expressed joy at their matriach’s acquittal, coming as it did during their commemoration of their father’s 68th birth anniversary.
Henry V. Abraham, Jr. was a leading Communist Party of the Philippines cadre killed by the Philippine National Police after whom a New People’s Army command in northern Cagayan was named after.
“Justice prevailed in this case as our mother is not the criminal they picture her to be. The truth is, she never wavered in her commitment to defend the marginalized,” the family in a statement on Wednesday said.
“We remain firm in our stand that our mother committed no crime because it is just to fight for the people,” it added.
Aside from Cruz-Abraham’s acquittal, more political prisoners scored legal victories in other parts of the country this week.
Long fight for freedom for other political detainees
The Taguig RTC acquitted five activists of charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
Two of the so-called Sta. Cruz 5, including National Democratic Front of the Philippines peace consultant Adelberto Silva and farmer Edisel Legaspi, however, remain in jail to face murder charges.
Mindanao political prisoners Charisse “Chaba” Bañez and Arjie Dadizon also won provisional dismissal of attempted homicide and multiple homicide charges from the 5th Municipal Circuit Trial Court in Don Carlos, Bukidnon, the Free Agusan 6 Network announced.
Members of the so-called Agusan 6, Bañez and Dadizon still face charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives in Trento, Agusan del Sur.
Bañez and Dadizon are also facing separate cases of attempted homicide and illegal possession of firearms and explosives in Bukidnon province. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
