Pastor, Six Others Cleared of Murder Charges

By Juliane Judilla

HIMAMAYLAN, Negros Occidental – A regional trial court acquitted United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) pastor Jimie Teves and six others of murder and frustrated murder charges, citing the prosecution’s failure to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Judge Rodney Magbanua of the Negros Occidental Regional Trial Court Branch 61 in Kabankalan City handed down the decision on Monday, November 18.

Dubbed the “Himamaylan 7,” Teves, along with church workers and farmers Jodito Montesino, Jaypee Romano, Jasper Aguyong, Rogen Sabanal, Eliseo Andres, and Rodrigo Medez, were arrested in 2019 by the Philippine Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion.

The group was accused of involvement in a May 12, 2018, ambush in Barangay Tan-awan, Kabankalan City, that left two military personnel dead. They were charged with two counts of murder and seven counts of frustrated murder and were alleged to be members of the New People’s Army (NPA).

The UCCP welcomed the acquittal, stating that the accused had been “wrongfully imprisoned, falsely accused, and subjected to ongoing persecution” for their advocacy for land reform, social justice for national minorities, and peace in Negros Occidental.

“The acquittal of Pastor Teves and company is an answered prayer for the whole church. It also serves as a testament to the power of community support,” the UCCP said in a statement.

Atty. Rey Gorgonio, the legal counsel for the Himamaylan 7, maintained that his clients were red-tagged and falsely accused.

“They are farmers and indigenous people from Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan,” Gorgonio said.

He expressed sympathy for the families of the victims of the ambush but argued that imprisoning innocent individuals compounded the injustice.

During the trial, Pastor Teves testified that he was a UCCP pastor and that the other accused were his churchmates and members of Tribu Ituman, an Indigenous People’s group assisting farmers in remote areas in accessing government aid and services.