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In May 2023, a criminal complaint was filed accusing the non-governmental organization (NGO) Community Empowerment Resource Network (CERNET) and 27 individuals who were affiliated with the organization (collectively referred to as \u201cCERNET 27\u201d) of violating Section 8(ii) and Section 9 of the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act (Republic Act No. 10168) of 2012. Among the defendants were except for one person former and active development workers and HRDs who were or are still associated with CERNET.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Since its founding in 2001, CERNET has worked with grassroots organizations to improve the socioeconomic situation in their communities. Despite its recognized work, CERNET has been the target of unfounded accusations of supporting the the communist insurgency or the armed rebel group New People’s Army (NPA) in the Philippines. This practice of so-called “red-tagging<\/em>,” i.e. the branding of individuals or organizations as \u201cterrorist\u201d or belonging to the NPA, is a common strategy of the Philippine security forces to prevent, among others, NGOs and their employees from carrying out their work.<\/p>\n Red-tagging <\/em>often leads to further harassment, public defamation, unlawful surveillance, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances and even killings.\u00a0<\/p>\n CERNET\u2019s bank account has been frozen since October 2023, forcing the organization to eventually suspend its projects in the Visayas. On May 8, 2024, all 27 individuals, along with CERNET, were indicted by the Cebu City Regional Court. Three individuals had already passed away by the time of the indictment (three more died in early 2026).* All defendants were able to post bail shortly after receiving the arrest warrants on May 13, 2024. The fabricated charges not only put the individuals and their families at risk but also hinder their respective organizations and their important work with marginalized communities.<\/p>\n In late April 2024, shortly before the said charges were filed against CERNET, during a press conference in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, Philippine security forces, particularly General Joey Escanillas, accused CERNET and its members of supporting the armed rebel group NPA.<\/p>\n On May 18, 2024, the Cebu City Police posted a photo of one of the accused, Estrella Catarata, on their Facebook page, identifying her as the \u201cNo. 1 most wanted person in the Central Visayas region.\u201d Photos of two other defendants (Dr. Oliver Gimenez and Dr. Petty De Castro) were also posted on the same Facebook page, while images of five additional defendants were posted on a separate page. All seven were identified as \u201cwanted persons.\u201d<\/p>\n CERNET and its employees have been subjected to red-tagging<\/em> attacks in the past. In addition, in early 2023, Dyan Gumanao, a former employee of CERNET, was abducted together with her partner Armand Dayoha by alleged Philippine security forces and interrogated for several days at an undisclosed location (find out more here<\/a> on the case of Dyan Gumanao and Armand Dayoha).<\/p>\n In January 2024, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Irene Khan, denounced the practice of red-tagging<\/em> and called for the abolition of government agencies known for harassing activists. Khan emphasized that such actions hinder and delegitimize community-led development and poverty alleviation work.<\/p>\n According to CERNET, the main witness in the case, former CERNET employee Bernabe Nieves, claimed in September 2012 to have paid 135,000 Pesos (approximately 1,900 Euro) to the NPA in Negros Oriental Province through another witness, the alleged former rebel Hermosila Apao Villamor. Nieves was employed by CERNET from 2006 until his dismissal in November 2012.<\/p>\n In August 2024, various UN Special Rapporteurs expressed grave concern in a joint communiqu\u00e9 about \u201cthe potential consequences of the asset freezing measures [on] vital humanitarian and human rights services\u201d provided by CERNET.<\/p>\n Charges were filed in September 2024, and hearings were held in February, May, and July 2025. Even the testimony of an employee of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) during one of the hearings provided no evidence of the alleged money transfer from CERNET to the NPA. Representatives from various embassies in Manila \u2013 including those of Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, and the EU \u2013 observed the CERNET hearings.<\/p>\n On April 23, 2025, Estrella Catarata filed a civil complaint against General Escanillas seeking two million Pesos (approximately 27,800 Euro) for moral damages due to defamation and the red-tagging<\/em> attack against CERNET 27. On July 30, 2025, CERNET filed criminal and administrative complaints against the Public Prosecutor\u2019s Office with the Ombudsman\u2019s Office in Cebu City, accusing it of violating criminal prosecution regulations and arbitrariness in bringing charges against CERNET.<\/p>\n Due to the absence of the presiding judge, the next court hearing was postponed twice. On May 15, 2026, prior to the next hearing, the Regional Trial Court in Cebu City dismissed the charges against CERNET 27 for alleged terrorist financing. The court ruled that \u201cthe alleged acts did not constitute a crime under the law at the time they were committed.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a>* <\/a>On June 26, 2024, a court in Cebu City dismissed the charges against two of the defendants who had already passed away; no death certificate could be located for the third deceased person. Between January and April 2026, three additional defendants passed away: Cristina Mu\u00f1oz, Teresa Claire Alicaba, and Rebecca Seines.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n AMP has published three statements relating to the CERNET 27 case:<\/p>\n Download (PDF): AMP-Statement: On fabricated charges against NGOs in the Philippines 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Download (PDF): AMP-Statement: Fabricated charges against CERNET members in the Philippines 2024<\/a><\/p>\n