[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.19.4″ background_color=”#e2fde3″ custom_margin=”1px|||||” custom_padding=”45px||3px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”3px|auto|45px|auto||” custom_padding=”3px||4px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”15px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Nathaniel B. Vallente – also called Pastor \u201cDodo\u201d – has been imprisoned for alleged illegal possession of firearms and explosives (a violation of Republic Act 10591 and Republic Act 9516) in Bohol since June 25, 2021. For eight years, he has been a pastor of the Bohol United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) in Tugnaw, Basyaw, and Pitogo. Pastor \u201cDodo\u201d is a dedicated and respected human rights defender. He has been a known advocate of peasants\u2019 rights, especially with respect to the implementation of the national agrarian reform program in the Philippines. Most recently, he has been the adviser of the local peasant organization Nagkahiusang Maguuma sa San Jose (NAMASAJO) that actively campaigns and stands vigorously for the welfare of the peasantry in the province.<\/p>\n
In the early morning hours of June 25, 2021, Bohol Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) operatives implemented a search warrant against Pastor \u201cDodo\u201d at his house in San Jose, Mabini, Bohol, for alleged illegal possession of firearms and explosives. Initially the CIDG operatives have mistaken Pastor \u201cDodo\u201d \u2018s house for the house of his father-in-law, Victoriano Boybanting. At that time, Pastor \u201cDodo\u201d was sleeping inside his actual house, which was located just a few meters across Boybanting\u2019s house. Thus, the CIDG operatives then asked Pastor \u201cDodo\u201d at his house to come over to his in-law\u2019s house. Before commencing the warrant in Boybanting’s house, the CIDG operatives waited for the Barangay officials to join the search. While Pastor \u201cDodo\u201d and his wife were waiting, the CIDG operatives searched the house and allegedly found inside a room three pistols and a grenade. Pastor \u201cDodo\u201d insisted that he is not the owner of the found firearms and explosive but was still arrested.<\/p>\n
Fabricated charges through the planting of weapons on human rights defenders is a common practice applied by security forces to discredit and imprison them. They take advantage of the lack of forensic expertise that makes witness testimonies essential for the investigation and court proceedings.<\/p>\n
Since July 2021, Rev. Nathaniel \u201cDodo\u201d Vallente has gone through at least six court hearings. He was transferred to different jails a couple of times during the early parts of his imprisonment – this happened without providing proper notices to his family. In 2023, the Human Rights Officer of the German Embassy in Manila observed a hearing in the case against Pastor \u201cDodo\u201d.<\/p>\n
After more than three years in detention, a regional court in Bohol dismissed the first charge of illegal possession of explosives on September 6, 2024. Pastor \u201cDodo\u201d was able to post bail as a result and was released from custody on October 28, 2024.<\/p>\n
Justice finally prevailed when a regional court in Bohol acquitted Pastor \u201cDodo\u201d of the second charge of illegal possession of firearms on June 5, 2025. In a country deeply characterized by impunity, his acquittal gives hope to all other human rights defenders in the Philippines in their fight for justice.<\/p>\n
The court decision is also a result of the tireless efforts of Pastor \u201cDodo’s\u201d family, friends, UCCP colleagues and supporting organizations who spent almost four years demanding a fair trial and his immediate release from prison.<\/p>\n
The AMP accompanied Pastor \u201cDodo\u201d \u2019s case closely and advocated his immediate release by enabling more international visibility and diplomatic support.<\/p>\n
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Update: Jun 11, 2025<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/amp.ngo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/438083441_1069462094150246_1396437966809089282_n.jpg” title_text=”438083441_1069462094150246_1396437966809089282_n” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″ src_last_edited=”on|desktop” src_tablet=”https:\/\/amp.ngo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/438083441_1069462094150246_1396437966809089282_n.jpg” src_phone=”https:\/\/amp.ngo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/438083441_1069462094150246_1396437966809089282_n.jpg”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Photo \u00a9 UCCP Bohol<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Nathaniel B. VallenteNathaniel B. Vallente – also called Pastor \u201cDodo\u201d – has been imprisoned for alleged illegal possession of firearms and explosives (a violation of Republic Act 10591 and Republic Act 9516) in Bohol since June 25, 2021. For eight years, he has been a pastor of the Bohol United Church of Christ in the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":3143,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-8177","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/amp.ngo\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8177","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/amp.ngo\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/amp.ngo\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amp.ngo\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amp.ngo\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8177"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/amp.ngo\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8177\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11426,"href":"https:\/\/amp.ngo\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8177\/revisions\/11426"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amp.ngo\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3143"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/amp.ngo\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8177"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}