Rights advocates and indigenous peoples’ groups on Wednesday, October 16, urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to drop recent terrorism charges against two Mountain Province locals.
The two, Marcylyn Pilala and Alaiza Lemita, are accused under the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012 of providing supplies to members of the New People’s Army (NPA). Authorities claim Pilala sold groceries, food and medicine to the NPA, and Lemita allegedly provided them food.
Both have since filed their counter-affidavits.
Authorities used the testimonies of Victor and Karen Baltazar, who claimed to be former NPA members, in the charges. They also accused Pilala of receiving funds from an unnamed individual to support NPA activities.
In a statement, indigenous rights group Katribu claimed the complaints rely on testimony from alleged rebel returnees, whom rights groups argue may have been coerced into fabricating evidence.
The group further called for the repeal of both the Anti-Terrorism Law and the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act, stating that these laws criminalize not just activists, but also regular citizens involved in everyday activities.
In a separate statement, Cordillera women’s group Innabuyog and its Mountain Province chapter, Binnadang, argue that this case is part of a new pattern where the government uses testimonies from alleged former NPA rebels to file charges against individuals.