NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – For nearly six years, the families of the so-called “Himamaylan 7” lived in the shadow of anguish. Sleepless nights turned into months, then years of waiting, as the defendants, tagged as New People’s Army (NPA) rebels by the military, fought to prove their innocence.
Arrested in 2019, the seven individuals – ordinary farmers, church workers, and community members – faced charges of murder and frustrated murder, tied to a deadly ambush against state forces in 2018. They and their families asserted the charges were fabricated, but their fight against the legal machinery of the state was an uphill battle.
On Monday, November 18, after years of hearings, a regional court in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, ruled there was no evidence linking the Himamaylan 7 – and an eighth defendant arrested in 2023 – to the ambush. The verdict marked the end of a grueling chapter for the families but left scars that may never fully heal.
Jelyn Teves, daughter of acquitted Pastor Jimie Teves, recounted to Rappler on Tuesday, November 19, the devastating moment when her father was arrested.
“It felt like time stopped that day. Every day since then has felt like a battle for truth,” she said.
Jelyn, who was about to start college when her father was arrested, said the years that followed were filled with missed milestones – birthdays, laughter, anniversaries, and even her college graduation in 2023.
“Every time I saw my father in prison, it broke my heart,” she said. “He always tried to remain strong for us, but I could see the pain in his eyes. Like him, we longed for the warmth and comfort of having our father by our side.”
She added that her father celebrated his 56th birthday on November 15 inside the Negros Occidental Provincial Jail.
“Just days later, we received the best birthday gift – the news of his acquittal.”
Meanwhile, for Ronabel Medez-Fernandez, daughter of acquitted couple Rodrigo and Susan Medez, the pain was even greater.
“I lost not just one, but both of my parents [as a result of] these baseless allegations. Being their only child, it was devastating,” Fernandez told a news conference.
Despite the heartbreak, she held on to hope. “For five years, I was denied the chance to be with my parents. But I thank God that our prayers and sacrifices have been answered with prevailing truth.”
Unyielding faith
The families never gave up, mounting a relentless campaign to prove the innocence of their loved ones. Still, the legal battle dragged on, testing their patience, resilience, and mental health.
Now, after years of anguish, they can finally breathe a sigh of relief, with the court trashing the cases against Teves, Fernandez, Jodito Montesino, Jaypee Romano, Jasper Aguyong, Rogen Sabanal, Eliseo Andres, Rodrigo Medez, and his wife Susan, who was not among those arrested in 2019.
The court ruled that the evidence against the accused was insufficient, reaffirming what the defendants and their families had insisted all along: members of the Himamaylan 7, including Susan, were innocent.
“The moment our lawyer announced the acquittal, it felt like a boulder was lifted off our chests,” Jelyn said.
The verdict brought tears of relief and marked the beginning of the healing process for the families.
Fernandez expressed her happiness at being reunited with her parents after years of separation, calling it a long-overdue answer to her prayers.
The families are processing the release of the acquitted individuals from the provincial jail as of posting time.
Moving forward
While the acquittal has brought closure, the scars of the ordeal remain. The families are now calling for accountability and reforms to prevent similar injustices.
“We lost so much time with our loved ones – moments we can never get back,” Jelyn said. “No one should have to endure what we went through.”
The group’s lawyer, Rey Gorgonio, expressed sympathy for the families of those who lost their lives or were hurt in the 2018 ambush.
However, he stressed that imprisoning innocent people only deepens the injustice. Such actions, he said, do not serve justice but instead perpetuate further injustice. – Rappler.com