The family and supporters of child and women’s rights leader Ma. Salome “Sally” Ujano set an online concert and press forum on the eve of her arraignment.
Dubbed “Awit at Dasal Para sa Kalayaan: Free Sally Ujano!” is set on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021 at 7:00 – 8:30 PM via Zoom and Facebook Live at the Free Sally Ujano Facebook Page.
Philippines against Child Trafficking, Child Rights Coalition Asia (CRC Asia), ECPAT Philippines, Musicians for Democracy, the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – Asia Pacific, WomanHealth Philippines,Inc. organized the event.
In a statement, organizers said the online event will discuss why they believe the charges against Ujano are “unfounded”, her arrest and detention “unjust”.
Forum panelists include Ms. Luz Gloria Restua, Secretary, PACT National Campaign Council, Ms. Amihan Abueva, Regional Executive Director, CRC Asia and Ujano’s family led by her son Kokoy, her brother Boyet and and her niece, Tina Rodriguez.
The concert will premiere six (6) songs from local artists, prayers and messages from Ujano’s colleagues, family, and friends, and a short dispatch from Ujano herself from detention.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) arrested Ujano on Nov.14 in Barangay Mabolo in Malolos City, Bulacan through a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Virgilio Alpajora of the Regional Trial Court Branch 59 in Lucena City on rebellion charges filed against her in 2006. Newly appointed PNP chief, PGen Dionardo Carlos, lauded Ujano’s arrest which stemmed from her alleged involvement as a high-ranking official of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in the ambush of two military personnel in Quezon Province in 2005. Carlos also alleged that Ujano had been in hiding for 15 years which her family denies.
Her family and supporters say Ujano has been “very much in the public eye working to end trafficking of women and girls in the country and providing assistance and counseling to survivors of domestic violence.”
“As executive director of Women’s Crisis Center (WCC) and later national coordinator of Philippines Against Child Trafficking (PACT), she collaborated closely with the PNP and other government agencies in establishing a rights-based approach in handling trafficking cases. It makes no sense for someone who is supposed to have committed a crime and who is supposed to be in hiding to do this,” her family said in a statement.
Rights group Karapatan said the PNP was lying to justify Ujano’s arrest.
“Nothing is more audacious than the PNP commending themselves for the unjust arrest of Ujano by reviving an old baseless charge, and labelling her as a most wanted person who has eluded arrest for 15 years. In fact, various organizations that she has worked for the last two decades attest that she has been active and present in the public eye all these years. The PNP is making an utter lie to justify her unjust arrest,” Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay said. – Rommel F. Lopez