MANILA— Two former political prisoners have asked the Office of the Ombudsman to reconsider its dismissal of criminal complaints against five Philippine National Police (PNP) officers over their alleged illegal arrest and detention, as well as the planting of evidence.

Indigenous Peoples’ rights advocate Niezel Velasco and Manobo activist Julieta Gomez filed a motion for reconsideration on Monday, seeking accountability for their nearly four years of imprisonment before they were acquitted in April 2025.

According to Katribu Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas, the two were arrested during a joint military and police operation in Quezon City in July 2021 and faced charges including illegal possession of firearms, murder, and attempted murder.

The trial court acquitted them on April 8, 2025, citing a lack of evidence, according to the account provided by the complainants.

In November 2025, Gomez and Velasco filed criminal complaints against five police officers for false testimony against a defendant, false testimony in other cases, perjury in solemn affirmation, unlawful arrest, and liability for planting evidence. They also lodged administrative complaints, including conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct, and oppression.

The complainants said the Ombudsman dismissed their criminal complaints in June 2026. On the administrative charges, they said the office acknowledged that some officers had failed to meet strict standards for warrantless searches but issued only an admonishment or reminder.

“Sa halos apat na taon namin pagkakulong tapos ganiyan lang ang desisyon sa Ombudsman na ipawalang-bisa na na-dismiss sa mga pulis yung kaso namin? Saan yung katarungan namin?” Velasco said in a chance interview after filing the motion.

“Kami na mga aktibista, mabilis na makulong, samantalang yung mga pulis na nagpakulong sa amin, bihira lang na makulong,” she added.

“Kailangan namin ng hustisya sa pagkakulong namin ng apat na taon na kasama namin si Julieta Gomez,” she said.

The complainants are seeking the prosecution of the police officers and their removal from service, according to Agudo.

Katribu condemned the handling of the complaints, saying the case illustrated how the rule of law could be manipulated to shield state personnel from accountability.

“Ang ganitong kalakaran ay nagpapakita kung paanong madaling baluktutin ang rule of law upang pagtakpan ang mga paglabag ng estado at ng mga galamay nito,” the group said in a statement.