Court of Appeals acquits child rights advocate Sally Ujano of rebellion raps
MANILA, Philippines — After more than a year in prison, child rights advocate Sally Ujano has been released after the Court of Appeals acquitted her of rebellion charges.
The Court of Appeals acquitted the 67-year-old Ujano on March 24, according to a message sent to Ujano’s niece, Tina Rodriguez, obtained by Philstar.com.
According to the appellate court, the evidence against Ujano "fails to establish with the required moral certainty" that she and her co-accused were among "those who participated in the alleged rebellion."
Ujano was officially released from the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong on March 26.
“Pumabor po sa atin ang Court of Appeals sa inalabas nilang resolution na pinapawalang-sala si Nanay Sally sa mga paratang na inaakusa sa kanya. Isang magandang balita po ito at malaking tagumpay para sa ating lahat lalung-lalo na po sa sector ng mga kabataan at kababaihan, lalo na sa pagtatapos ng buwan ng mga kababaihan,” statement of the Free Sally Ujano Facebook page read.
(The Court of Appeals has ruled in our favor with its newly released resolution acquitting Nanay Sally of the allegations against her. This is wonderful news and a great victory for all of us, especially for the youth and women's sectors, particularly as we conclude Women’s Month.)
The appellate court acquitted her on appeal, reversing the ruling of the Taguig Regional Trial Court, Branch 266, which had found her guilty of rebellion.
She was sentenced to 10 years of prision mayor minimum to 17 years and four months of reclusion temporal maximum.
Ujano was arrested on November 14, 2021, by police in plain clothes who reportedly did not show any identification, on a rebellion charge linked to an alleged 2005 ambush of two military personnel in Quezon province. She was detained the same month.
The charge, which her family has called “trumped-up,” was originally filed against her in 2006. She was released on bail in December 2022 but was later convicted without bail and re-detained in May 2024.
According to her family, Ujano suffers from hypertension and heart arrhythmia amid her imprisonment.
She also has osteoarthritis and scoliosis, conditions reflected in her old medical records but allegedly not recognized by the Bureau of Corrections’ infirmary.
Who is Sally Ujano? Ujano served as executive director of the Women’s Crisis Center from 2000 to 2007 and was national coordinator of the Philippines Against Child Trafficking from 2008 to 2024.
In 2023, she was recognized by UN Women – Philippines for her significant efforts in human rights advocacy.
She was awarded the title of Feminist Champion against Gender-Based Violence, alongside other rights workers.
Ujano was also instrumental in lobbying for key legislation, including the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004.
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