CSOs urgent call: Drop the fabricated charges against Cagayan Valley 11
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 Valencia, and community journalist Deo Montesclaros, who are facing similar fabricated complaints since January 2025 in Cagayan Valley Region.
This state-sanctioned harassment is designed to drain the resources, energy, and resolve of those defending peasants, youth, indigenous communities, and marginalized sectors facing land-grabbing, destructive mining, and militarization all over the country.
The crackdown in Cagayan Valley forms part of a nationwide pattern of financial repression and judicial harassment designed to shrink civic space. When the state targets activists and NGO workers with terrorism financing charges, it directly sabotages community development, human rights monitoring, and grassroots organizing, leaving vulnerable communities defenseless against exploitation and militarized aggression.
The Defend NGOs Alliance stand firmly with the Cagayan Valley 11 and call on all human rights advocates, civil society organizations, and international solidarity partners to urgently call on the Philippine government to:
Immediately dismiss all trumped-up TFPSA charges against the 11 Cagayan Valley activists and all development workers nationwide similarly attacked.
End to the weaponization of RA 10168 (TFPSA) and RA 11479 (Anti-Terrorism Act) against human rights defenders, journalists, and non-governmental organizations.
Abolish the NTF-ELCAC, the primary engine of red-tagging, vilification, and judicial harassment in the country.
Exact accountability for state forces and false witnesses involved in fabricating charges and persecuting human rights defenders and development workers.
Legislate the Human Rights Defenders Protection Law and related legislation for the protection and respect of people’s rights and enjoyment of their economic, social and cultural rights (ESCR)
Build, strengthen genuine partnerships with CSOs meant to enable communities’ participation in development and democratic governance
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