Tribal group condemns arrest of church worker
Say police action part of a deliberate policy of harassment against activists
- ucanews.com reporter, Manila
- Philippines
- July 6, 2012
An indigenous people’s group today condemned the arrest of a Church worker who was taken into custody on Wednesday while having a meeting with a congressman in the northern city of Tuguegarao.
Police arrested Agnes Mesina, a lay worker from the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines, on suspicion of manslaughter during a meeting with Congressman Antonio Tinio, a teachers’ representative.
She was released yesterday after posting bail.
“This is clear political harassment,” said Piya Macliing Malayao, spokesperson of the National Federation of Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines.
The arrest "smells of harassment, something which many other activists have experienced," she said.
Malayao said Mesina is a long-time advocate of indigenous peoples’ rights and is actively involved in campaigns against large-scale mining, logging and other environmental causes.
“This is the state's attempt to cut short [Mesina]'s contributions to the people’s movement, whom she has served for many years,” Malayao said, calling for any charges against her to be dropped.
In a phone conversation with ucanews.com, Kakay Tolentino, secretary-general of the Katribu Party, said authorities has not released any information on Mesina's case, and in particular who the victim of the alleged manslaughter was.
The Katribu Party is a party-list group representing the country’s indigenous peoples.
Congressman Tinio said Mesina’s arrest was carried out by elements of a police intelligence unit.
“[Mesina’s] arrest bears all the hallmarks of the harassment tactics employed by the national security establishment, which seeks to hinder and repress the activities of activists identified with the left by charging them with common crimes such as murder, arson, kidnapping, armed robbery and the like,” Tinio said in a statement yesterday.
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Police arrested Agnes Mesina, a lay worker from the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines, on suspicion of manslaughter during a meeting with Congressman Antonio Tinio, a teachers’ representative.
She was released yesterday after posting bail.
“This is clear political harassment,” said Piya Macliing Malayao, spokesperson of the National Federation of Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines.
The arrest "smells of harassment, something which many other activists have experienced," she said.
Malayao said Mesina is a long-time advocate of indigenous peoples’ rights and is actively involved in campaigns against large-scale mining, logging and other environmental causes.
“This is the state's attempt to cut short [Mesina]'s contributions to the people’s movement, whom she has served for many years,” Malayao said, calling for any charges against her to be dropped.
In a phone conversation with ucanews.com, Kakay Tolentino, secretary-general of the Katribu Party, said authorities has not released any information on Mesina's case, and in particular who the victim of the alleged manslaughter was.
The Katribu Party is a party-list group representing the country’s indigenous peoples.
Congressman Tinio said Mesina’s arrest was carried out by elements of a police intelligence unit.
“[Mesina’s] arrest bears all the hallmarks of the harassment tactics employed by the national security establishment, which seeks to hinder and repress the activities of activists identified with the left by charging them with common crimes such as murder, arson, kidnapping, armed robbery and the like,” Tinio said in a statement yesterday.
Related reports
Rally calls for justice for disappeared
