MANILA, Philippines — The Davao del Norte provincial prosecutor has dismissed the complaints lodged against the so-called ‘Bakwit School 7’ for insufficiency of evidence, lack of probable cause, and for being outside the office’s territorial jurisdiction. The Lumad minors were from Talaingod, Davao del Norte. For the complaint of human trafficking, the prosecutor said there is no evidence that it has been committed within its jurisdiction. However, SOSN said the parents authorized the volunteer teachers to allow the children to join the “bakwit” school, a learning center for refugees who fled the increasing militarization in Mindanao. READ: Lumad Bakwit School: A school on the runIn a statement on Friday (May 14), SOSN-Cebu hailed the decision as a “testament to the legitimacy of the calls of the Lumad and the existence of the bakwit school,” as it also called out the government’s controversial anti-insurgency task force for peddling lies.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer May 14, 2021 05:40 UTC