Gun raps vs Gabriela leader dismissed

BAGUIO CITY , Philippines — Indigenous human rights advocate Beatrice Belen walked out of prison in Kalinga yesterday after a local court dismissed the charges for illegal possession of firearms filed against her last year.

The Kalinga Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 39 dismissed the charges against Belen on Thursday, Catherine Salucon of the National Union of People’s Lawyers said.

Belen, a leader of the Gabriela-affiliate Innabuyog-Cordillera, was arrested on Oct. 25 after three rifle grenades were allegedly recovered at her home in Barangay Uma in Lubuagan town.

Agents of the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and Special Action Force commandos as well as soldiers of the 503rd Infantry Brigade raided Belen’s house based on a search warrant issued  by Tabuk City RTC Branch 25 Judge Jerson Eckman Angog.

Prior to her arrest, Belen was leading a campaign against the construction of a geothermal plant in Kalinga.

In 2018, Belen was awarded the Gawad Bayani ng Kalikasan for her advocacy of protecting the environment against destructive projects.