Defend Talaingod 13! Defend the Rights of Indigenous Peoples!

Who are the Talaingod 13?

The Talaingod 13 are composed of 13 activists, teachers, and advocates of Indigenous Peoples’ rights who were unjustly ruled against by the court on child abuse charges in connection with a solidarity mission in 2018 in Talaingod, Davao del Norte.

Their action was an urgent humanitarian and rescue mission to save Lumad children and teachers from the threats of militarization and intimidation.

Among the Talaingod 13 are:

• Former Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo

• Former ACT Teachers Representative France Castro

• Volunteer teachers from Lumad schools

• The former administrator of the Salugpongan Learning Center

Since then, the Talaingod 13 have continued to face harassment and red-tagging—clear forms of intimidation against human rights defenders and advocates of Indigenous Peoples.

Brief timeline of the case

• November 28, 2018 – A National Solidarity Mission was carried out in Talaingod, Davao del Norte, with the participation of the Talaingod 13, to assist the teachers and students of the Salugpongan Ta’ Tanu Igkanogon Community Learning Center, Inc. (Salugpungan).

This was in response to the intimidation and harassment by the paramilitary group Alamara, which threatened to burn down Salugpungan in Sitio Dulyan. The Lumad teachers were forced to evacuate 16 students to protect them from danger. France Castro, Satur Ocampo, and other members of the mission helped ensure that the students reached a safe location.

• July 15, 2024 – The Tagum City Regional Trial Court Branch 2 issued an unjust decision finding the 13 individuals liable for “other forms of child abuse” and imposed a sentence of 4 to 6 years of imprisonment.

• July 22, 2024 – Satur Ocampo, France Castro, and the other accused filed a Notice of Appeal with the Tagum RTC to challenge the ruling and elevate the case to the Court of Appeals in Cagayan de Oro.

• October 17, 2024 – The Defend Talaingod 13 Network was launched, aiming to fight for the dismissal of the cases against the Talaingod 13 and to advance Lumad rights.

• December 19, 2025 – The Court of Appeals released a decision affirming the unjust decision against the Talaingod 13—a heavy blow to human rights and to solidarity with the struggles of Indigenous Peoples.

Why should the unjust decision be overturned?

The case against the Talaingod 13 is a clear example of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP)—cases used to abuse the justice system in order to silence, intimidate, and punish human rights defenders and people’s allies.

The unjust decision against the T13:

• Criminalizes solidarity with the struggles of Indigenous Peoples.

• Treats humanitarian aid and rescue missions in militarized communities as crimes.

• Silences and intimidates teachers, church people, professionals, and citizens who are willing to stand up for Indigenous rights.

In reality, what the NTF-ELCAC and the state label as 'crime' was a life-saving response. Faced with intense militarization and oppression linked to large-scale extractive operations like mining in Mindanao, many Lumad communities established their own schools to ensure access to education and essential services, and as a way to assert their basic rights amidst repression.

In 2016, there were 216 Lumad schools in the country. At present, most of these have been shut down due to systematic intimidation and attacks—including incidents similar to what the Talaingod 13 now face as well as aerial bombings, extrajudicial killings, and other forms of fascism and oppression—under the administration of Rodrigo Duterte, who openly expressed his intention to bomb the Lumad schools.

In this context, the Talaingod 13’s immediate response to the dangerous situation faced by the Lumad was just and necessary. Their action stands as an example of solidarity and the protection of human rights, something that is urgently needed amid widespread intimidation and militarization.