The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) welcomes the dismissal of terrorist financing charges that were filed against the head of a Leyte-based development NGO. At the same time, it condemns the filing of similar charges against five activists in the Cagayan Valley region.

The increase in cases of terrorist financing filed by state agents against NGOs and people’s organizations is deeply alarming. These are attacks on democratic rights, which include the freedom of association and the freedom of expression and opinion, of those charged and of all Filipinos. These are also attacks on marginalized communities’ right to development, or their right to participate in and enjoy economic, social, cultural and political development.

In a ruling released on January 29, Leyte City Prosecutor Ma. Liza Miscala-Jorda junked the terrorist financing case filed against Leyte Center for Development Inc. (LCDe) executive director Jazmin Jerusalem for lack of evidence.

The complainant, Police Master Sergeant Divine Grace Songalia of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Region 8, failed to present convincing evidence that Jerusalem channelled funds to rebel groups Communist Party of the Philippines and New People’s Army, which the Philippine government tags as terrorist organizations.

Meanwhile activists in Cagayan Valley were informed recently that terrorist financing charges filed against them. The activists facing charges are peasant activist and former political prisoner Isabelo Adviento, peasant activist Cita Managuelod, Karapatan human rights worker Jackie Valencia, Makabayan-Cagayan Valley coordinator Agnes Mesina and journalist and environmental activist Deo Montesclaros.

Among the recent targets of similar terrorist financing charges are the Paghidaet sa Kauswagan Development Group (PDG) in Negros, United Methodist Church pastors in Zamboanga Sibugay, the Community Empowerment Resource Network (CERNET) in Cebu, the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP), the Cordillera People’s Alliance and the Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women.

Human rights organization Karapatan points to the government’s effort to move up the rankings of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an intergovernmental organization that fights money laundering and terrorist financing, as an immediate reason for the increase in trumped-up terrorist financing charges.

The rise in terrorist financing charges should be investigated by government bodies concerned with human rights and development. It is an attack on Filipinos’ democratic rights and right to development and no less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr should take decisive action to immediately stop the filing of these charges against activists and development workers. It is utterly shameful and deplorable that these genuinely nationalist, pro-poor and socially-engaged Filipinos are being persecuted for their service to our people.