KARAPATAN denounces court ruling vs Cordillera rights defenders
KARAPATAN Public Information
PRESS RELEASE
June 2, 2026
Reference: Cristina Palabay, KARAPATAN secretary general, 09173162831
KARAPATAN Public Information Desk, 09189790580
KARAPATAN denounces court ruling vs Cordillera rights defenders
KARAPATAN strongly denounced the decision of the Baguio City Regional Trial Court Branch 78 denying the petition for certiorari filed by leaders of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) – Windel Bolinget, Sarah Abellon-Alikes, Jennifer Awingan, and Stephen Tauli – challenging their arbitrary and baseless terrorist designation and raising constitutional questions against the draconian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
“This ruling sets a dangerous precedent for human rights defenders, development workers, community organizers, environmental advocates, journalists, church people, and all those who have been wrongfully and maliciously branded as terrorists for their advocacy. By effectively denying meaningful judicial review of terrorist designations, the decision further gives license State forces to weaponize the Anti-Terrorism Act against dissenting voices and critics of government policies,” said Cristina Palabay, KARAPATAN secretary general.
The group expressed solidarity with the indigenous people’s leaders who they said “have courageously challenged the terror law and pursued legal remedies against a designation that has unjustly endangered their lives, livelihoods, and legitimate work in defense of indigenous peoples' rights.”
For KARAPATAN, the implications of this ruling extend far beyond the four petitioners. “It sends a chilling message that those who openly criticize the status quo, and pursue advocacies and struggles especially for marginalized sectors, may be deprived of effective remedies even when their fundamental rights are under attack. There is already a narrow democratic space in the Philippines, where critical opinion, peaceful protest, and legitimate dissent are increasingly treated as threats rather than protected rights. This is not a good sign that will change anytime soon under the current administration,” Palabay explained.
For years, the Cordillera leaders have been subjected to relentless red-tagging, harassment, surveillance, and vilification because of their advocacy for indigenous peoples' rights, ancestral land, and right to self-determination. Their designation as terrorists is part of a broader pattern of attacks against human rights defenders and people's organizations.
“The court's apparent reliance on uncorroborated allegations of a single individual of questionable integrity while disregarding the grave consequences of terrorist designation raises serious concerns about due process, accountability, and the protection of fundamental freedoms. These designations carry profound and lasting consequences, including threats to personal security, restrictions on civil and political rights, reputational damage, and the constant risk of arrest and prosecution,” said Palabay.
KARAPATAN reiterates that the Anti-Terrorism Act has been repeatedly used as a tool for political repression. This latest ruling strengthens fears that the law's broad and vague provisions can continue to be wielded against activists, rights defenders, and communities asserting their democratic rights with little meaningful check from the courts.
“We call on all human rights advocates, and defenders of civil liberties to stand with the CPA leaders, and all those who continue to face terrorist labeling for their legitimate advocacy. At a time when attacks on dissent are intensifying, we must remain steadfast in asserting that the real terrorists are those who make people suffering from injustice, oppression, and unjust policies as they cling on to power,” Palabay ended.
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KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and civil liberties. It monitors and documents cases of human rights violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training and campaign. It was established in 1995.