Court junks Amparo case against IJM and DSWD staff

CEBU, Philippines - The Regional Trial Court yesterday dismissed a Petition for Amparo filed by the parents of a girl rescued from an alleged prostitution den against the staff of International Justice Mission and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Judge Bienvenido Saniel Jr. dismissed the petition after the girl herself said she “freely and voluntarily” stayed under the custody of IJM and DSWD because she feels safe and secure under their care.

During the hearing of the petition, the daughter of couple Juan and Rebecca Dasigan belied her parents’ claim that IJM and DSWD deprived her of her “right to life, liberty and security” after she was rescued from the prostitution den.

The daughter said nobody forced her to stay under the care of IJM and DSWD and, in fact, reportedly wanted to withdraw the complaint against IJM lawyers Giovannie Luna and Carmelita Pelone and social workers Artemia Deciamo and Nemisia Tumaroy.

In a two-page decision dated March 2, Saniel said there is no “factual and legal justification to grant the privilege of the Writ of Amparo.”

“From the testimony of the aggrieved party herself, in open court, it is clear and unequivocal that she is not being detained in any manner or deprived of her liberty by anyone, much less, the respondents in this case,” Saniel said.

The Dasigan couple earlier alleged their daughter was being held against her will by the respondents at a safe house maintained by them.

They also accused the respondents of forcing them to sign an undertaking, saying that their daughter was minor when she was rescue when in fact she reportedly was not.

The perjury complaint the couple filed against the same respondents is still pending before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office. –Fred P. Languido/JMO (THE FREEMAN)