Six activists, including leaders of peasant, youth, and religious organizations, were recently served subpoenas after being accused of violating the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act. Among them is Renato Gameng, a farmer and leader of the peasant organization Danggayan Dagiti Mannalon iti Isabela (Dagami) in northern Philippines.
Authorities have accused Gameng and ten other Cagayan Valley activists of giving support to the rebel group, New People’s Army (NPA), basing their claims on information reportedly provided by military informants. Subpoenas were issued to six of them in August 2026 – Gameng, Jhames Paredes, Anne Pascual, Nelson Escalante, Marifel Macalanda, and Walter Villegas.
Activists and human rights groups describe the charges as judicial harassment, saying these are based on weak evidence, such as decayed rice supposedly buried for years.
Local organizations see the prosecution as politically motivated and targeting those who defend natural resources. Environmental activists say most of the accused are environmental defenders and criticize the government’s misuse of “anti-terrorism laws” to intimidate activists.
“This new wave of attacks against us is alarming because for them, our advocacy of providing services for the farmers, campaign for more budget in education and classrooms, and proper disaster response are terrorism,” said one of the accused Jhames Paredes during a protest.
The Cordillera activists Isabelo Adviento, Agnes Mesina, Cita Managuelod, Jackie Valencia, and Deo Montesclaros faced similar complaints in January 2025.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Appointments (CA) has concluded its review of a sworn opposition from the non-governmental organization Community Empowerment Resource Network (CERNET) against the appointment of Maj. Gen. Joey Escanillas.
CERNET challenged Escanillas’ involvement in a terrorism financing case against their board and staff and claimed he had brought the complaint in order to target their leadership. He “red-tagged” CERNET at a press conference in April 2024. The practice of “red-tagging” means accusing an individual or organization of being a supporter or member of the NPA.
Escanillas said he had not violated any rights or deprived anyone of life, property, or liberty. The CA plenary later confirmed his ad interim appointment to major general without opposition. Assistant Minority Floor Leader Rep. Antonio “Tonypet” Albano backed the approval and dismissed the complaints as unfounded.
Photo © Raffy Lerma