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
The Defend NGOs Alliance stands in firm solidarity with journalist and media advocate Marchel Espina, along with all truth-tellers facing relentless legal harassment. The recent issuance of an arrest warrant for “unjust vexation” against Espina, stemming from an opinion piece published during her tenure as editor-in-chief of SunStar Cebu is a textbook example of how light criminal offenses are being weaponized to bypass constitutional rights and suppress public scrutiny. Wh
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