A female Lumad (indigenous) student who was one of the 21 persons arrested at the University of San Carlos-Talamban Campus in Cebu on Feb. 15, 2021 was released by the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas (DSWD-7) on Friday afternoon, according to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu City Chapter. On March 11, the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 20 in Cebu City granted a petition for the release from detention of the female lumad student. The IBP Cebu City Chapter filed a manifestation before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 20 in Cebu City on Friday manifesting that Rebecca Geamala, regional director of DSWD-7 and Brenda Abilo, DSWD-7 social worker, willfully disobeyed the court order to immediately release a female lumad student. “This afternoon, the court acting on our manifestation, gave orders to the sheriff to serve the order of release of ‘Mikay’ from DSWD detention,” the IBP Cebu City Chapter said. “Our chapter always adheres that a child’s best interest is of paramount concern not only among us, but in the community as well,” it added.

Source: Manila Times March 12, 2021 16:13 UTC