An activist who was at the forefront of the campaign to draft and pass a law on violence against women and children has been sentenced to up to 17 years of imprisonment for rebellion.In a 56-page decision, the Taguig City Regional Trial Court Branch 266 found Maria Salome Crisostomo, also known as Maria Salome Crisostomo-Ujano, guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of Rebellion. She was sentenced to imprisonment from 10 years to 17 years and four months.
Ujano, who was arrested in November 2021, has been the National Coordinator of the Philippine Against Child Trafficking since 2008. She was also a part of the Women’s Crisis Center from 1990-2007 and served as its executive director for six years.Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, meanwhile, lauded the prosecutors over the decision.“We stood united once again in the face of sinister terrorists and conquered this menace by our resilience and unity.