{"id":12854,"date":"2026-03-23T06:55:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T05:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/amp.ngo\/?p=12854"},"modified":"2026-03-20T16:43:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T15:43:13","slug":"ifi-deacon-aldeem-yanez-should-be-moved-to-taguig-jail-as-supporters-renew-calls-for-release","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/amp.ngo\/en\/ifi-deacon-aldeem-yanez-should-be-moved-to-taguig-jail-as-supporters-renew-calls-for-release\/","title":{"rendered":"IFI deacon Aldeem Ya\u00f1ez should be moved to Taguig jail as supporters renew calls for release"},"content":{"rendered":"

The terrorism financing case against development and church worker Aldeem Ya\u00f1ez has been transferred<\/a> from the Lanao del Norte Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Iligan City to Taguig RTC Branch 266. On February 9, 2026, the Taguig court also approved<\/a> the State\u2019s motion to transfer Ya\u00f1ez\u2019s detention to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, citing \u201cnational security considerations.\u201d<\/p>\n

The transfer also applies<\/a> to Ya\u00f1ez\u2019s co-accused, Emilio Gabales and Aileen Villarosa. Rights group Karapatan noted that the three are among the \u201cNMR 16,\u201d a group of 16 individuals indicted for allegedly providing funds to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People\u2019s Army (CPP-NPA), who are classified by the Philippine government as \u201cterrorists.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ya\u00f1ez\u2019s legal team filed<\/a> a motion on February 26, 2026, asking the Taguig court to reconsider its decision. The lawyers argued<\/a> that a change of venue does not necessitate relocating the detained and questioned the sufficiency of the cited national security concerns.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Ya\u00f1ez faces<\/a> separate charges of alleged illegal possession of firearms and explosives at the Misamis Oriental RTC Branch 41 in Cagayan de Oro. The cross-examination of the defense\u2019s witnesses is scheduled for March 11, 2026.<\/p>\n

Ya\u00f1ez volunteered<\/a> with the Visayas\u2013Mindanao Regional Office for Development (VIMROD) of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) \u00a0and with the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform, a network advocating for the resumption of peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front (NDF). He was ordained<\/a> Deacon of the IFI on April 25, 2025, inside the Male Dormitory of the Cagayan de Oro City District Jail.<\/p>\n

Faith-based and human rights organizations continue to call<\/a> for his release, citing delays in the multiple cases filed against him.<\/p>\n

Ya\u00f1ez was arrested<\/a> at his home in Iponan, Cagayan de Oro on April 10, 2022. State security forces alleged<\/a> that they recovered a pistol and explosives from his residence and accused him of ties to the NPA. Ya\u00f1ez\u2019s family and supporters deny<\/a> the allegations, claiming the weapons were planted and stating that he had been taking care of his ailing father prior to his arrest.<\/p>\n

The planting<\/a> of weapons during searches has been a \u201ccommon practice\u201d by police and military forces to fabricate charges against human rights defenders.<\/p>\n

In a show of support, priests and representatives from local and international churches submitted<\/a> a petition to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last February 2026, urging the release of Ya\u00f1ez and other political prisoners they say are unjustly detained.<\/p>\n

Despite his detention, Ya\u00f1ez has continued<\/a> to create music while in prison. Known among church communities as a songwriter, he has composed<\/a> numerous songs reflecting themes of faith, struggle, and hope. In November 2024, the IFI released<\/a> a songbook and album titled Gawasnon (Freedom): Songs of Struggle, Freedom, and Hope, featuring dozens of songs written by Ya\u00f1ez while detained.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Photo \u00a9 IFI<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The terrorism financing case against development and church worker Aldeem Ya\u00f1ez has been transferred from the Lanao del Norte Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Iligan City to Taguig RTC Branch 266. On February 9, 2026, the Taguig court also approved the State\u2019s motion to transfer Ya\u00f1ez\u2019s detention to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, citing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":12908,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[73,63,58,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12854","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aktuelles-en","category-human-rights-defenders","category-human-rights-news","category-news-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/amp.ngo\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12854","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/amp.ngo\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/amp.ngo\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amp.ngo\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amp.ngo\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12854"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/amp.ngo\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12854\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12907,"href":"https:\/\/amp.ngo\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12854\/revisions\/12907"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amp.ngo\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12908"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/amp.ngo\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12854"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amp.ngo\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12854"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amp.ngo\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12854"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}