Jailed under Duterte, child rights activist Sally Ujano freed from prison
MANILA, Philippines – Child rights activist Ma. Salome “Sally” Ujano has been released from detention at the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City after the Court of Appeals (CA) granted her petition assailing her 2024 rebellion conviction, a movement seeking her release said on Friday, March 27.
“Isang magandang balita po ito at malaking tagumpay para sa ating lahat lalong-lalo na po sa sector ng mga kabataan at kababaihan, lalo na sa pagtatapos ng buwan ng mga kababaihan,” the Free Sally Ujano movement said.
(This is good news and a big win for us, especially for the women and youth sectors, at this time when we’re closing the women’s month.)
The Philippine National Police arrested Ujano in Malolos, Bulacan in 2021, amid a series of arrests and killings of activists under former president Rodrigo Duterte’s administration. Police served a 15-year-old warrant issued in 2006 by Lucena City Regional Trial Court Branch 59 Judge Virgilio Alpajora for rebellion.
In May 2024, the Taguig City Regional Court Branch 266 convicted Ujano of rebellion and sentenced her to a minimum of 10 years, and to a maximum of 17 years and four months in prison.
Ujano had been on bail since December 2022, but the court did not allow her to continue it after the conviction. She was later turned over to the Taguig City police and was detained at the CIW.
Court’s decision
The case stemmed from Ujano’s alleged involvement in the ambush of two military personnel in the province of Quezon in 2005.
But Ujano’s daughter, Karla, called the allegations baseless, saying she was serving as executive director of Women’s Crisis Center in 2005 or the year when the alleged crime happened.
Ujano has served as national coordinator of the Philippines Against Child Trafficking since 2008. She also served as mobilization officer at the Women’s Crisis Center from 2006 to 2007, and as its executive director from 2000 to 2006.
After the conviction, Ujano brought the case to the CA. A co-accused, Dionisio Almonte, also filed a petition.
In granting the petition, the CA Special 16th Division explained that a successful criminal prosecution largely depends on two things: identification of the author of the crime and his/her actual commission of the crime.
The CA said it does not dispute that the prosecution was able to present evidence that several armed encounters took place in Quezon Province in 2005 between government forces and alleged members of the New People’s Army. But the appellate court said the mere existence of these battles was not enough to sustain the rebellion conviction. – Rappler.com
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