Activist freed from detention in Cagayan on Xmas eve

An activist detained in Cagayan last March was freed on Friday after a local court dismissed murder charges filed against her for allegedly killing a village chief from the province, a jail official said Saturday. Myrna Cruz-Abraham, consultant of peasant organizations in Cagayan, walked free on Christmas Eve at 9 a.m. after nine months of detention at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology center in Tuguegarao City, Jail Officer 2 Luz Aquino said Saturday. Cruz-Abraham’s release came after Judge Marivic Beltran of the Cagayan Regional Trial Court Branch 3 dismissed for lack of probable cause murder charges earlier filed against the activist. Cruz-Abraham was arrested and jailed nine months ago for her alleged involvement in the killing of Dadda village chief Johnny Belo in 2009. The local court likewise allowed Cruz-Abraham to post bail for illegal possession of firearms charges also filed against her in connection with Belo’s killing. Aquino said the activist walked out of prison “joyfully," and was welcomed by friends upon her release. Cruz-Abraham, a development consultant and a member of Anakpawis party-list in Cagayan, went missing on March 22 and was later found at the BJMP facility in Tuguegarao City. Militant groups claimed that the activist was abducted by the military and was interrogated about her involvement in Belo’s killing. Cruz-Abraham also once threatened to go on hunger strike upon her detention if ever she is convicted for the two charges filed against her.—ACC/JV, GMANews.TV