Cebu court orders release from detention of Lumad student

A Cebu City Regional Trial Court (RTC) granted a petition for the release from detention of a female Lumad student who was one of 21 others arrested at the University of San Carlos-Talamban campus in Cebu on February 15.

Judge Leah Geraldez, presiding judge of Regional Trial Court Branch 20, issued the order on Thursday after finding that there was no factual and legal basis for the detention of “Alice” (not her real name) at the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7 Crisis Intervention Center.

“The respondents Department of Social Welfare and Development, Rebecca Geamala and Brenda Abilo are hereby ordered to immediately release the minor (name withtheld by The Manila Times) from custody and return her to the custody of her father, the petitioner Lope Haictin,” the release order stated.