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“This is good news and a big victory for all of us, especially in the youth and women’s sector, especially at the end of the women’s month,” the Free Sally Ujano movement says.
MANILA, Philippines – Children’s rights activist Ms. Salome “Sally” Ujano has been released from detention at the Women’s Correctional Institution in Mandaluyong City after the Court of Appeals (CA) granted her petition to dismiss her 2024 rebellion conviction, the movement that called for her release said on Friday, March 27.
“This is good news and a great success for all of us, especially in the youth and women’s sector, especially at the end of the women’s month.,” the Free Sally Ujano movement said.
(This is good news and a big victory for us, especially for the women and youth sector, at this time when we close the month of women.)
The Philippine National Police arrested Ujano in Malolos, Bulacan in 2021, amid a series of arrests and the killing of activists under the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte. Police served a 15-year-old warrant issued in 2006 by Lucena Regional Court Judge 59 Virgilio Alpajora for rebellion.
In May 2024, Taguig City Regional Trial Court Branch 266 convicted Ujano of rebellion and sentenced him to a minimum of 10 years, and a maximum of 17 years and four months in prison.
Ujano was on bail since December 2022, but the court did not allow him to continue with the case after he was convicted. He was later handed over to the Taguig City police and detained at the CIW.
Court decision
The case was based on Ujano’s alleged involvement in ambushing two soldiers in Quezon province in 2005.
But Ujano’s daughter, Karla, called the allegations baseless, saying she was serving as the executive director of the Women’s Crisis Center in 2005 or the year the alleged crimes occurred.
Ujano has served as the national coordinator of Philippines Against Child Trafficking since 2008. She also served as outreach officer at the Women’s Crisis Center from 2006 to 2007, and as its executive director from 2000 to 2006.
After being found guilty, Ujano brought the case to the CA. A co-accused, Dionisio Almonte, also filed a plea.
In granting the petition, the 16th Special Division of the CA explained that the effectiveness of criminal prosecution largely depends on two factors: the identity of the author of the crime and his actual performance of the crime.
The CA said it is undisputed that the prosecution was able to present evidence that several armed clashes took place in Quezon Province in 2005 between government forces and alleged members of the New People’s Army. But the appeals court said the mere existence of this war was not enough to sustain the conviction of rebellion. – Rappler.com
