Arrest warrant issued vs. environmental activists Tamano, Castro

A Bulacan court has issued a warrant of arrest against Jhed Tamano and Jonila Castro, the environmental activists who said they were kidnapped by state forces.

In an order dated February 2, the Dona R. Trinidad Municipal Trial Court issued the warrant in connection with the grave oral defamation case filed against them.

The court set the bail for both at P18,000.

This came days after the Supreme Court granted Tamano and Castro a writ of amparo and habeas data, saying that it found that elements of enforced disappearance were present.

In September 2023, the NTF-ELCAC claimed that Tamano and Castro surrendered to the 70IB in Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan, in the same month.

It presented the two at a press conference, ostensibly to debunk reports of their abduction. However, the activists said they were abducted by the military.

The initial complaint filed against Tamano and Castro were for perjury, but the Department of Justice recommended that they both be charged separately for grave oral defamation. — BM, GMA Integrated News