SAVE Our Schools (SOS) Network welcomed the strong condemnation from two United Nations special rapporteurs over the conviction of 13 Indigenous educators and human rights defenders known as the Talaingod 13.
The UN officials urged the Philippine government to address the politically motivated charges and uphold international human rights standards.
Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, and Farida Shaheed, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education, issued a joint statement calling the convictions unjust and warning of the broader implications for Indigenous communities and educators.
The UN experts detailed how the prosecution of the Talaingod 13 represents a misuse of counter-terrorism laws and fabricated charges to target Indigenous rights defenders.
The educators were sentenced to up to six years and eight months in prison for alleged child abuse after they rescued Lumad students from military harassment.
The UN experts noted that no credible evidence supported the charges.
According to the rapporteurs, more than 200 Lumad schools have been forcibly shut down since 2018, depriving thousands of Indigenous children of education.
The closures and military presence in Indigenous areas reflect systemic state-sponsored repression, the report reads.
The UN officials emphasized that the Marcos Jr. administration has failed to intervene, allowing repression tactics from the Duterte era to persist.
Red-tagging—labeling individuals or groups as communists or terrorists—remains a widespread practice used to justify legal persecution.
“The criminalization of Indigenous educators is part of a broader campaign to dismantle Lumad schools and suppress Indigenous self-determination,” the rapporteurs said in their statement.
The SOS Network and human rights advocates demand immediate action from the Marcos Jr. administration:
Overturn the Conviction of the Talaingod 13: Drop the charges and release the educators.
Stop the Criminalization of Indigenous Educators: End red-tagging and harassment of Lumad teachers.
Reopen Lumad Schools: Allow the resumption of Indigenous-led education.
Hold Perpetrators Accountable: Investigate and prosecute those responsible for human rights violations.
“Marcos Jr. cannot remain silent. His administration’s inaction is complicity,” the SOS Network said. “The world is watching.”
As the 2025 elections approach, human rights groups are urging Filipinos to remember the injustices faced by the Talaingod 13 and Lumad communities.
The SOS Network called on voters to reject leaders who perpetuate repression and to support those who advocate for Indigenous rights and justice.
“The fight for justice is far from over. Accountability starts with collective action at the ballot box,” the SOS Network said.
