News

Silencing People’s Voices: State Censorship in the Anti-Disinformation Bills A Position Paper on House Bill (HB) 9465 and its Senate Counterpart Defend NGOs Alliance 17 July 2026 The Defend NGOs Alliance strongly rejects HB 9465, otherwise known as the “Digital Media Anti-False Information Act”, and its counterpart in the Senate. The alliance opposes its railroaded passage in Congress, as the bills pose a dangerous threat that could close civic space. The fast-tracked passage

Broad Nets, Narrow Freedoms: The Chill of the New Espionage Act Position Paper of the Defend NGOs Alliance on HB 9642 23 September 2026 The Defend NGOs Alliance strongly opposes House Bill No. 9642, “An Act Expanding the Coverage of Espionage Law,” cited as the “New Espionage Act,” authored by Representative Zamora (Y.M.), Oducado, Suan, Romualdo, and more than thirty other co-authors. The House of Representatives approved the bill on third and final reading on 17 September 2

Even after securing court orders in favor of releasing funds, the Leyte Center for Development, Inc. (LCDe) still continues to endure months of asset freezing. On 20 February 2026, the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 28 denied the Anti-Money Laundering Council’s request for an Asset Preservation Order (APO) and lifted its temporary freezing under the Provisional Asset Preservation Order (PAPO) signaling the release of funds which has been extensively withheld for two

The Defend NGOs Alliance strongly denounces another state-sponsored legal persecution this time against 11 activists in Cagayan Valley. Six regional leaders—Renato Gameng, Nelson Escalante, Anne Pascual, Jhames Paredes, Marifel Macalanda, and Walter Villegas—recently faced trumped-up terrorism financing charges under Republic Act 10168 or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012. They join Isabelo Adviento, Agnes Mesina, Cita Managuelod, Jackie Valen

LOOK: On July 30, 2026, Leyte Center for Development, Inc. (LCDe) attended their pre-trial hearing on civil forfeiture. LCDe Executive Director and Defend NGOs Alliance Spokesperson Jazmin Jerusalem questioned the continuation of their trial after a criminal case founded on the same grounds was dismissed. She also demanded the release of their organizational and personal funds by the Anti-Money Laundering Council after the agency failed to secure a permanent freeze order. #As