• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A court in Iloilo City dismissed the terrorism financing case filed against five individuals alleged to be affiliated with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army– National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and its allied front organizations in Negros Island for lack of jurisdiction.
Regional Trial Court Judge Branch 31 Cyril Regalado, in his 24-page decision dated March 14, ordered the dismissal of the case against Federico Salvilla, Perla Pavillar, Dharryl Albanez, Felipe Gelle and Clarrisa “Yesha” Ramos, all identified as development workers of Paghidaet sa Kauswagan Development Group Inc., a civil society organization based in Kabankalan City.
In a statement, Bayan Negros said the dismissal is “a damning indictment of the state’s use of fabricated cases, red-tagging, and terrorist-tagging to attack development workers”.
“This ruling proves what we have long asserted — these charges were baseless, politically-motivated, and designed to dismantle movements fighting for genuine agrarian reform and the democratic rights of the people,” Bayan Negros deputy spokesperson Berlita Ante said.
In the decision, Regalado gave credence on the legal contention of the defendants that even though they were red-tagged, by accusing them with terrorism financing, they still cannot be charged with violation of Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act.
The respondents, who were accused by the authorities based on the claims of former rebels of soliciting funds to purchase firearms for the NPA in Negros Island, strongly debunked the allegations. | GB
