Long-time women’s and children’s rights advocate, Ma. Salome “Sally” Ujano was arrested by agents of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on 14 November 2021 in Malolos, Bulacan on rebellion charges filed against her in 2006. PNP Chief PGen Dionardo Carlos asserted that Sally’s arrest stemmed from her alleged involvement as a high-ranking official of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in the ambush of two military personnel in Quezon Province in 2005. The PNP also said that Sally has been in hiding for fifteen (15) years.

These accusations are baseless. Sally is the National Coordinator of the Philippines Against Child Trafficking (PACT) and, at the time of the alleged crime, was the executive director of the Women’s Crisis Center. Both institutions are committed to work earnestly for women and children’s rights, more specifically against all forms of violence and trafficking in women and children.

Sally was never in hiding and has been in the public eye for 30 years, collaborating with government agencies, including the PNP, in battling trafficking in persons. Her contribution to the women’s and children’s rights movement is invaluable. She is not and has never been an enemy of the State.

Sally has been in detention for more than 50 days in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. Her case is now pending before branch 266 of the Regional Trial Court of Taguig City.  Sally's lawyers filed two motions to the court: Motion to Quash and Motion to Grant Bail. Her arraignment originally scheduled on 7 December 2021 was reset to 14 December, 2021 and later to 20 January 2022.

We, the undersigned, support the petition to grant bail to Sally based on the following reasons:

1) The evidence of guilt has not been clearly established. The prosecution has failed to show clearly that Sally committed the crime she is accused of. The ridiculousness of the claims that she had been involved in acts of rebellion nearly 20 years ago and had been in hiding since are enough reasons for her case to be quashed for no evidence.

2) Sally is not a flight risk. Her utmost respect for legal processes has been proven by her work, including training police officers and social welfare workers in adhering to provisions of the law and ensuring a rights-based approach to handling trafficking cases. Sally’s length of public service as a reputable leader in civil society assure the court that she will appear in court and will face the charges against her.

3) Sally, who is 64 years old, is a senior citizen with heart ailments. COVID-19 and her pre-existing health problems put her in much more danger while in detention. The threat of COVID-19 endangers her much more than she endangers anyone.

4) Sally has the constitutional right to be released on bail. Bail protects the right of Sally to due process and to be presumed innocent until proven otherwise. This requires the court to wait until after trial to impose any punishment on Sally.

We therefore join Sally’s appeal to the court to quash her case and approve her motion for bail, considering the length of time it would take for cases such as hers to be resolved. Sally is an upright citizen. She is not and has never been an enemy of the State. More days in jail mean more injustice for Sally. Katarungan para kay Sally! Palayain si Sally!

For donations to the FreeSallyUjano campaign and for the family, please coordinate with the @freesallyujano Facebook page.