QC court dismisses estafa charge under a certain “Mary Jane Velasco,” filed vs. former political prisoner, IP advocate Niezel Velasco

Reference: Beverly Longid, National Convener

Quezon City, Philippines — The Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC) Branch 34 dismissed the trumped-up Criminal Case No. M-QZN-24-03247-CR for Estafa against a certain “Mary Jane Velasco,” pinned against former political prisoner and Indigenous Peoples’ rights advocate Niezel Velasco, on the grounds of failure to prosecute.

“We welcome the court’s dismissal of the estafa charge wrongly filed under the name Niezel Velasco,” stated Beverly Longid, National Convener of Katribu Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas. “Niezel is not Mary Jane Velasco, and the misidentification caused unnecessary strain and confusion. Throughout the hearings—which the private complainant did not attend—we consistently upheld Niezel’s innocence and commitment to due process. We hope this resolution affirms the importance of accurate representation and accountability in legal proceedings.”

The estafa case, first lodged in 2007 and suddenly revived in May 2024, was among a string of legal actions seen by activists and human rights defenders as part of a broader campaign of judicial persecution targeting Niezel and other Indigenous Peoples and advocates.

“We believe that this is part of the harassment campaign of the military and police who also were behind the planting of evidence and illegal arrest of Niezel in 2021,” said Longid. “We hope that her other charges will be dropped, and that this is the end of the judicial harassment she suffers. Niezel has suffered illegal arrest, wrongful detention, and has been forced to face legal records for an identity that is not hers.”

On July 16, 2021, Niezel and Manobo activist Julieta Gomez were arrested in a joint police-military operation in Quezon City, falsely accused of murder, attempted murder, and illegal possession of firearms and explosives. During their incarceration of nearly four years, both were denied precious moments with her family, Niezel in particular missing her children’s graduation and family milestones. State forces also prevented them from serving the Lumad communities in Mindanao while in jail. Niezel and Julieta were acquitted in April 8, 2025 by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 91 due to insufficient evidence and prosecutorial inconsistencies.

Despite this acquittal, Niezel’s ordeal has not ended. She was released on bail to face trumped-up charges of estafa, unjust vexation, and maltreatment, filed before the Quezon City MeTC Branch 34 and Antipolo MTCC Branch 1, all under the name “Mary Jane Velasco.” Katribu maintains that this is part of the systematic harassment done against Niezel and other rights workers.

The dismissal of the estafa case is a victory, but it also serves as a reminder of the deeply flawed Philippine justice system as well as the negligent, incompetent, and abusive nature of state forces. Katribu, alongside advocates and human rights defenders, continues to call for the dropping of all trumped-up charges against activists and for accountability in the systemic misuse of the law to quash dissent. #