Municipal trial court orders arrest of environmental activists
A municipal trial court (MTC) in Bulacan has issued a warrant for the arrest of environmental activists Jhed Tamano and Jonila Castro. The warrant pertains to charges of oral defamation, filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in December 2023. The Doña Remedios Trinidad MTC served the warrant dated Feb. 2, 2024 against Castro and Tamano. According to a copy of the arrest warrant obtained by Philstar.com, the bail set for both costs P18,000 each. If found guilty, Castro and Tamano may face imprisonment of up to six months.
In a statement, the Hands Off Jhed and Jonila Network condemned the arrest of the two activists. The DOJ’s resolution indicting the activists reported that Castro and Tamano resorted to a press conference to allegedly embarrass the 70 Infantry Battalion (IB) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The Supreme Court, however, granted writs of amparo and habeas data, along with a temporary protection order to Tamano and Castro as “there was an established violation to the life, liberty, or security of petitioners.” A writ of amparo protects individuals whose right to life, liberty, or security is violated or threatened by unlawful acts of public officials, employees or private entities.
A writ of habeas data, on the other hand, protects a person’s right to control information that was illegally obtained.
