Defend NGOs Alliance stands in solidarity with PDG Inc., calls out gov't for criminalization of development work

The Defend NGOs Alliance stands in solidarity with Paghidaet sa Kauswagan Development Group Inc. (PDG) as they confront another alarming development in the continuing legal harassment of their staff and partners. Five counts of terrorism financing under Section 8 of RA 10168 or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act (TFPSA) have been filed against Felipe Levy Gelle, a former advocacy staff of PDG.

Gelle is a co-accused in a case originally filed against PDG staff Federico Savilla and Perla Pavillar; former Executive Director Clarisa Ramos; and Daryl Albañez, a known human rights defender and long-time partner of PDG in Negros Island. These charges are based on the same legal arguments and factual assertions already quashed by the Iloilo Regional Trial Court Branch 31 in a court order issued on March 14, 2025. This raises serious concerns about the use of judicial processes to harass and intimidate human rights defenders and development workers.

Gelle "voluntarily presented" himself on June 24, 2025 to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Philippine National Police in Negros Occidental, after supporters were able to raise the Php 1 million bail required for his temporary release.

In a press conference on July 1, 2025, Gelle highlighted the identical nature of the charges previously dismissed by the court due to the unconstitutionality of the “supranational designation” provision invoked in the complaints.

“These repeated attempts to criminalize development workers and human rights advocates in Negros reflect an intensifying crackdown on people-led development efforts. Those working with grassroots communities have been subjected to red-tagging, harassment, and surveillance—directly undermining their ability to serve marginalized communities and defend democratic and human rights”, asserts Isidro Genol Jr., PDG Spokesperson and convener of the Defend NGOs Alliance.

Other development NGOs such as the Community Empowerment Resource Network (CERNET), Leyte Center for Development (LCDe), Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP) and Katinnulong Daguiti Umili iti Amianan (KADUAMI) are in continuing legal battle against spurious charges of terrorism financing-- raising the alarms on the current state of civic space in the Philippines. 

“The continuous harassment and vilification of CSOs, NGOs and POs alike belie the Marcos Jr. government’s claim that his administration champions human rights. The attacks are causing incalculable harm and trauma to development workers and the communities they work with”, says Defend NGOs Alliance spokesperson Jazmin Jerusalem.

“The senseless attacks must stop. We reiterate our call to the government drop the baseless charges against CSOs and development workers. Hold accountable, those who continue their harmful actions that adversely impacts on the economic, social and cultural rights (ESCR) of the Filipino people”, ends Jerusalem.#