April 28, 2024
Environmental Defenders Face Trumped-Up Financing Terrorism Charges. Kalikasan PNE and ENVIDEFCON condemn this.
In an alarming development, two young human rights defenders from Quezon are now facing trumped-up charges of financing terrorism. Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment and the Environmental Defenders Congress strongly condemns this unjust targeting. Tanggol Quezon Spokesperson Paul Tagle and Kabataan Partylist Quezon Coordinator Fritz Labiano are currently charged with violating Section 8 of the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.
On April 8, Paul and Fritz learned that a preliminary investigation resolution had been released, and the Department of Justice recommended that criminal charges be filed against them. Shockingly, prior to April 8, the two had not been informed — as required by law — that complaints had already been filed against them. They had not received any subpoena or notice for preliminary investigation.
We condemn the deception and manipulation of the justice system involved in filing charges without prior notification to the accused. In addition, they are charged with financing terrorism based on a July 18, 2023, incident where they handed over Php500 to Rowena Dasig and Miguela Peniero just days after the two women were arrested.
Rowena and Miguela are environmental defenders who, at the time of their arrest, were researching the potential impacts of a proposed fossil gas power plant in Atimonan, Quezon. Their environmental defense work aims to protect communities from the adverse effects of fossil fuel infrastructure. The charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives against them are baseless and even downright malicious. Their arrest by soldiers of the 85th Infantry Battalion on July 14, 2023, is illegal. Clearly, their arrest is a violation of their rights.
In this context, the new trumped-up charges against Paul and Fritz for their support of environmental activists already detained on false charges amount to a form of “double jeopardy”!
What is emerging is a clear pattern of “legal harassment” aimed at maligning human rights and environmental defenders in Quezon and suppressing their vital work.
As similar cases are occurring in many other parts of the country, what is also emerging is the systematic misuse of the Philippine legal system to harass environmental and human rights defenders. This also indicates escalating state terror tactics used against environmental defenders under the Marcos Jr. regime.
We stand firm: providing services to unjustly detained environmental defenders is not a terrorist act nor a criminal act!
We call on the courts to dismiss the case against Paul and Fritz.
We call on the Commission on Human Rights to investigate this trend of using the courts to engage in “legal harassment” of environmental and human rights defenders.
Following a clear pattern of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, Republic Act No. 11479, being used to terrorize environmental and human rights defenders — as had been feared by advocates during its deliberations — we call on Congress to repeal this draconian law.
We urge all freedom-loving Filipinos to support environmental defenders. Their work is crucial for safeguarding ecosystems, combating climate change, and ensuring the well-being of present and future generations.##