Raps vs 6 Cagayan Valley activists slammed
Several rights groups on Monday slammed the terrorism financing charges filed against six activists in Cagayan Valley, saying the charges were “trumped-up,” meant to derail the campaign for the May elections of Makabayan candidates and two party list groups.
Among the six activists facing terrorism financing charges were Agnes Mesina, regional coordinator of Makabayan in Cagayan Valley; Isabelo Adviento, regional coordinator of the Anakpawis party list; and Walter Villegas, regional coordinator of the Kabataan party list.
Also facing charges were Jackie Valencia, former national council member of the rights group Karapatan; Cita Managuelod, national council member of the farmers’ group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas; and Deo Montesclaros, an environmental activist and journalist.
“We can see the continued repression of the members and officers of Makabayan, and now more serious cases are being filed against them,” said Makabayan senatorial candidate Liza Maza in a press conference.
She added, “For sure, these are made-up cases that were again filed against [Mesina] in order to stop the advancement of Makabayan. Due to the strength being shown by Mabakayan, they are doing all that they can, including the filing of trumped-up cases [against] our leaders, coordinators, and members.”
Vicious campaign
According to Karapatan, the cases were part of a “vicious” campaign spearheaded by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.
The rights group noted that at least 166 individuals have been charged or designated as “terrorists” through the Anti-Terrorism Act and the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act, with the six Cagayan Valley activists the latest “victims” of such laws.
Seventeen nongovernmental organizations, most of which were engaged in development work, had their bank accounts frozen due to the Anti-Terrorism Law, said Karapatan.
Maza said the filing of cases against the six activities also violated the Commission of Elections’ (Comelec) Resolution No. 11116, which prescribes antidiscrimination and fair campaigning guidelines for the upcoming elections.
“There is still Red-tagging that is already prohibited by the Comelec,” she said. “There is a discrimination and political harassment against Makabayan by filing all these trumped-up charges just this February and March.”
She said Makabayan will be filing a complaint at the Comelec today over cases of Red-tagging and the filing of “fabricated” cases against members of the group.
Karapatan noted that Mesina and Villegas were also charged last year with illegal possession of firearms and explosives, with Mesina facing a case for violation of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Adviento was just released from prison in April last year after being acquitted of the charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
All three activists have already filed their counter-affidavits and are now awaiting the resolution of their cases, Karapatan said. INQ
