Defend NGOs welcomes dismissal of PDG case; renews call to end attacks on NGOs
- Defend NGOs Alliance
- May 6
- 2 min read
STATEMENT
May 6, 2025
The Defend NGOs Alliance lauds the decision of the Iloilo Regional Trial Court Branch 31 in April 22, 2025 denying the prosecution’s motion for reconsideration (MR) for the terrorism financing case against Paghidaet sa Kauswagan Development Group's (PDG) staff and allies.
Last January 2, 2025, two staff members of PDG, Federico Salvilla and Perla Pavillar were arrested, along with Dharyl Albanez on baseless allegations of violating section 8 of R.A. 10168, otherwise known as Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act (TFPSA).
On March 14, 2025, the Iloilo RTC granted the PDG's Motion to Quash the case, effectively dismissing the cases against the Negros development workers. The court cited lack of evidence for the crime. But the prosecution filed for an MR. In response, the court reaffirmed its previous ruling and declared that the automatic adoption of foreign terrorist designations under R.A. 10168 is unconstitutional for violating fundamental rights.
Defend NGOs maintained that these charges, stemming from baseless allegations of terrorism financing are part of the crackdown on progressive organizations, activists, human rights defenders (HRDs) and communities asserting people's rights to development and democratic governance. “We see these attacks as attempts to silence critical CSO voices,” says Jazmin Jerusalem, Defend NGOs Spokesperson.
Similar other cases against prominent development workers and non-government organizations (NGOs) are still in the process of judicial review. Among others, these include the Community Empowerment Resource Network (CERNET) - a consortium of NGOs in the Visayas, the Leyte Center for Development, (LCDe), Farmers Development Center (FARDEC), and Katinnulong Daguiti Umili iti Amianan, Inc. (KADUAMI).
Prior to the filing of judicial cases against NGOs and development workers, these NGOs and people’s organizations, development workers and HRDs were red tagged and surveilled. The Defend NGOs Alliance asserts its call to the government to drop the baseless charges against development workers and stop attacking HRDs. "The attacks on NGOs which includes red-tagging are harmful actions impacting the economic, social, and cultural rights (ESCR) of the people. We demand that the courts thoroughly review the evidence and provide immediate relief to those wrongly accused", adds Jerusalem.
“We call on CSOs, rights defenders to support calls against the harassment of development workers, HRDs, activists and development organizations”, ends Jerusalem.
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