Defend NGOs Alliance - Visayas

16/04/2026

𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗟𝗖𝗗𝗲! 𝗗𝗥𝗢𝗣 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗣𝗘𝗗 𝗨𝗣 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗚𝗘𝗦!
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The Defend NGOs Alliance - Visayas stands with the Leyte Center for Development and Ms. Minet Jerusalem in their civil forfeiture pre-trial today, April 16, at the RTC Branch 28, Manila.

Despite the court’s earlier ruling lifting the asset freeze due to lack of evidence, the AMLC continues to withhold LCDe’s funds, prolonging harassment against a legitimate development organization and disrupting services for marginalized communities. This case is part of a broader pattern of attacks against NGOs and development workers, where humanitarian work is unjustly criminalized through baseless accusations and legal pressure.

DNA Visayas calls for the immediate release of LCDe’s funds, the dismissal of all cases, and an end to the persecution of development workers.
(16 April 2026)

15/04/2026

28/03/2026

The Defend NGOs Alliance mourns the passing of Ms. Teresa Claire "Teray" Alicaba who dedicated her life in empowering the marginalized sectors of the Visayas region.

As one of the "CERNET 27," Teray endured battles not just in health but also from fabricated legal onslaught in her later years. We honor her legacy while demanding an end to the systematic persecution that overshadowed her final years.

The passing of Teresa Claire “Teray” Alicaba in March 2026 is a profound loss for the Philippine development community and a stark indictment of the ongoing judicial harassment against human rights defenders (HRDs). As a dedicated officer of the Community Empowerment Resource Network (CERNET), T...

27/03/2026

A Life for the People, A Quest for Justice: Honoring Teresa Claire “Teray” Alicaba

The passing of Teresa Claire “Teray” Alicaba in March 2026 is a profound loss for the Philippine development community and a stark indictment of the ongoing judicial harassment against human rights defenders (HRDs). As a dedicated officer of the Community Empowerment Resource Network (CERNET), Teray’s life and work represented a commitment to structural change and the empowerment of marginalized sectors across the Visayas. On behalf of the Council for People’s Development and Governance (CPDG) and the Defend NGOs Alliance, we honor her legacy while demanding an end to the systemic persecution that overshadowed her final years.

For nearly a decade, from 2006 to 2015, Teray served as CERNET’s Small Projects Funds Officer, a role that demanded both technical rigor and deep social empathy. Her work was not merely administrative; it was a structural intervention designed to bridge the gap between resource-deprived people’s organizations (POs) and the support they needed to achieve self-reliance. By reviewing and vetting project proposals from farmers, fisherfolk, urban poor families, and women in distress, Teray ensured that development aid reached the front lines of the struggle for social justice. Her colleagues remember her as a professional who did not just process paperwork but actively listened to the narratives of injustice and discrimination that shaped the lives of those she served.

Teray’s later years were marked by a courageous battle against both physical illness and a fabricated legal onslaught. Named as one of the “CERNET 27,” she was caught in the crosshairs of the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012 (RA 10168), a policy framework that has been increasingly weaponized to shrink civic space and criminalize legitimate NGO operations. This case, which alleged a ₱135,000 contribution to the New People's Army from over a decade ago, is widely viewed by domestic and international observers as a tool for “red-tagging” and repression to paralyze NGOs and discourage communities in asserting their rights.

Despite being diagnosed with kidney failure and requiring dialysis three times a week, Teray remained a resolute figure within the CERNET 27. Her struggle highlights the “trial by exhaustion” often imposed on defenders: the dual burden of maintaining health while defending dignity against the state’s punitive machinery.

Teray is the second member of the CERNET 27 to pass away in early 2026, following the death of Cristina Muñoz in January. Her passing before the resolution of this case is a tragedy of justice delayed. The Defend NGOs Alliance and CPDG maintain that the most fitting tribute to Teray is not through celebratory rhetoric, but through the immediate dismissal of the CERNET 27 case and a cessation of the policy of red-tagging that targets HRDs, development workers, and humanitarian workers alike.

Teray’s life was defined by her conviction that the poor deserve a voice and the resources to demand their rights. We carry her resolve forward in the continuing struggle for a truly democratic and rights-based development framework in the Philippines. #

27/03/2026

Another One of the CERNET 27 Falls While Waiting for Justice

Teresa Claire Alicaba, fondly called Teray, was one of the accused in the fabricated terrorist financing case against the CERNET 27. She served as Small Projects Funds Officer of the Community Empowerment Resource Network, Inc. (CERNET) and worked with the organization from 2006 to 2015.

As a development worker, Teray reviewed small project proposals submitted by people’s organizations across the Visayas seeking support from CERNET. Her work often brought her to communities, where she listened to the stories and struggles of farmers, fisherfolk, urban poor families, low paid workers, women, and children in distress. Through these encounters, she developed a deep commitment to the sectors CERNET served. She gave her talent and energy to development work with conviction and purpose. She was passionate, outspoken, and unafraid to speak against the social injustices endured by the poor.

Life in development work at CERNET, as with many similarly minded civil society organizations, was never easy. Because CERNET remained firm in its commitment to the poor, it endured vilification, harassment, red tagging, and even attacks. By the time Teray and the other members of the CERNET 27 learned of the fabricated case in 2023, she was already suffering from kidney failure and undergoing dialysis three times a week. Even then, she remained among the most resolute in standing up and defending herself alongside her co accused.

Of the 27 accused in the CERNET 27 case, three had already passed away before the case was filed in 2023. Cristina Muñoz died in January 2026. This March, Teresa Claire Alicaba also passed on. She was not spared the burden of this charge, nor granted the chance to see it brought to its just end.

CERNET Inc. mourns and extends our deepest condolences on the passing of Teray. Likewise, we will stand together more firmly and steadfastly to make sure we get the justice she deserves.

The wake is being held at San Vicente St., Brgy. Poblacion 1, Carcar, Cebu, with interment on March 29, 2026.

18/03/2026

JUNK OIL DEREGULATION LAW! FIGHT FOR NATIONAL INDUSTRIALIZATION!

The Defend NGOs Alliance (DNA) Visayas stands in solidarity with transport workers and the Filipino people in the nationwide transport strike this March 19, 2026.

Oil is the lifeblood of the economy. When fuel prices surge, the impact ripples across all sectors: transport fares increase, food prices rise, basic goods become more expensive, and already strained public services become even more inaccessible. These worsening oil price hikes are not isolated economic issues– they are direct attacks on the people’s livelihood and on the ability of civil society to serve communities. For the toiling masses, this is the poison that worsens the daily hardship.

As development and humanitarian workers, we witness firsthand how oil price shocks cripple our service. The relief operations turn out much more expensive as mobility is restricted, ultimately meaning that essential services in far-flung areas are disrupted. At the same time, transport workers, farmers, fisherfolk, and urban poor communities bear the heaviest burden of these unjust price increases.

These conditions are rooted in structural policies that prioritize profit over people. The Oil Deregulation Law has allowed oil companies to dictate prices with minimal state intervention, while excise taxes and VAT on petroleum products further inflate costs at the expense of ordinary Filipinos.

DNA Visayas joins the call to:
🛞 Roll back fuel prices immediately;
🛞 Suspend excise tax and VAT on oil and basic services;
🛞 Junk the Oil Deregulation Law;
🛞 Nationalize the oil industry to ensure that it serves the interests of the Filipino people.

Likewise, we call on everyone to support and join the nationwide transport strike actions this March 19. In Cebu, rally centers are set at Andoks (Mabolo), Landbank (P. Del Rosario), and Shell Gas Station (Nasipit-Cabancalan).

In the face of rising prices and shrinking spaces, collective action remains our strongest response. Join the transport strike! #

11/03/2026

𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗣 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗔𝗖𝗞𝗦! 𝗗𝗘𝗙𝗘𝗡𝗗 𝗡𝗘𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗦!
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The Defend NGOs Alliance (DNA) Visayas stands in solidarity with Atty. Rey Gorgonio, chairperson of the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) - Negros, and the development workers of Paghidaet sa Kauswagan Development Group (PDG), who filed a petition for a Writ of Amparo and Habeas Data before the Supreme Court on March 5, 2026.

The petition comes amid persistent threats, surveillance, harassment, and intimidation reportedly perpetrated by state forces. Atty. Gorgonio, PDG’s legal adviser and a member of its Board of Trustees, has been openly red-tagged in communities, including by elements of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, and has reportedly been tailed and monitored by unidentified individuals in civilian clothes. The petition further recounts threats directed at PDG development workers, including warnings to cease associating with Atty. Gorgonio and statements that he would be “silenced” for being “too brave.”

These threats are deeply alarming given the violent history of attacks against development workers in Negros. Atty. Gorgonio himself was reportedly informed that he was being targeted because he was perceived as the successor to Atty. Benjamin Ramos Jr., PDG’s Executive Director and a respected human rights lawyer who was assassinated in November 2018.

Among those targeted is PDG worker Joselito Macapobre, who survived an attempted abduction on January 18 after delivering relief assistance to farmers. Macapobre, who has been assisting farmers opposing the operations of Hacienda Asia Plantation Inc., had previously been repeatedly visited by soldiers from the 15th Infantry Battalion who accused him of recruiting for the New People’s Army.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀, 𝗣𝗗𝗚 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘀 𝗢𝗰𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹. Since the killing of Atty. Benjamin Ramos Jr. in 2018, however, PDG staff and volunteers have faced relentless surveillance, harassment, and intimidation.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝟰,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟳𝟬𝟬 𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝟯𝟱 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀.

DNA Visayas strongly condemns these continuing acts of intimidation against development workers and human rights defenders. Development work is not, and will never be, a crime. Standing with farmers, fisherfolk, and marginalized communities should never place individuals in danger.

𝗪𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝘆. 𝗚𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗼, 𝗣𝗗𝗚 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲’𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗮𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.
(11 March 2026)

10/03/2026

𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗟𝗖𝗗𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀. 𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸.
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The Defend NGOs Alliance Visayas welcomes the court’s decision to drop all three counts of terrorism financing against Jazmin “Minet” Aguisanda-Jerusalem for lack of the required publication of the foreign and supranational designation relied upon in charging the accused, a failure that the court ruled constituted a clear violation of the constitutional guarantee of due process.

To recall, Ms. Minet, the Director of the Leyte Center for Development (LCDe), DNA National Spokesperson, and officer of the Citizens’ Disaster Response Network, had been facing three counts of terrorism financing based largely on testimonies of alleged rebel returnees. In July of 2025, she pleaded not guilty to those accusations.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆, 𝘆𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗹𝗮𝘄𝘀.

Moreover, despite the court’s ruling, the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) continues to hold the funds of the LCDe. These frozen resources directly affect programs intended for marginalized communities that rely on development and humanitarian support.

𝗗𝗡𝗔 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗮𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺. We call for the immediate release of LCDe’s funds, the dropping of all remaining baseless charges against development workers, and an end to the use of terrorism financing laws to silence legitimate humanitarian and development work.
(10 March 2026)

03/03/2026

𝗔 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲
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From February 16 to 20, the Defend NGOs Alliance, together with DNA Visayas, the Council for People's Development and Governance, allied legislators, and civil society partners, carried out a coordinated week of actions across various venues to confront the continued weaponization of counterterrorism laws and defend shrinking civic space.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗰𝘁 𝗡𝗼. 𝟭𝟭𝟰𝟳𝟵 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗶-𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗔𝗰𝘁 (𝗔𝗧𝗔) 𝗼𝗳 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟬, 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀.

Moreover, it has been paired with Republic Act No. 10168, or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act (TFPSA) of 2012, allowing the state to continue its attacks on people’s development.

𝗧𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗮𝘄𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗿𝗲𝗱-𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘇𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

The week opened with a press conference on the filing of House Resolution No. 786, which directed the House Committee on Justice, jointly with the Committee on Human Rights, to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation into the implementation of ATA. The resolution sought to ensure compliance with constitutional guarantees and international human rights obligations. The Office of Mamamayang Liberal Representative Leila De Lima was joined by the Defend NGOs Alliance, the Council for People’s Development and Governance, Tanggol Magsasaka, Karapatan, CERNET, and other conveners. Evidence presented during the forum showed how the ATA and TFPSA had been used to vilify NGOs, development workers, and human rights defenders, ultimately hindering legitimate humanitarian and development work and adversely affecting the communities they served.

On February 18, together with members of the Makabayan Bloc, DNA supported the filing of House Bill No. 7843, which sought to repeal the TFPSA. On the same day, House Resolution No. 792 was filed, urging the Committee on Human Rights to immediately conduct an investigation, in aid of legislation, into escalating attacks against humanitarian and development NGOs and other human rights defenders.

Lobbying efforts were also conducted with members of the Makabayan Bloc and other legislators to gather broader support for the proposed measures.

On February 19, an Anti-Terror Law Forum was held to document the impacts of the ATA and strategize collective responses among civil society actors, lawyers, and advocates. On the same day, a silent protest was also conducted in solidarity with Jazmin “Minet” Aguisanda-Jerusalem during proceedings in her civil forfeiture case before Manila RTC Branch 28. The action demonstrated public opposition to the misuse of financial surveillance and forfeiture mechanisms to intimidate rights defenders.

The week concluded with a writeshop on House Bill No. 214 with the legislative staff of the Makabayan Bloc. The discussion of the Human Rights Defender Bill filed by Kabataan Partylist and the ACT Teachers Partylist proved fruitful, with insights from NGOs and development workers.

𝗗𝗡𝗔 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗮𝘄𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲𝘀. 𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲. #

25/02/2026

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗨𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗚𝗚𝗟𝗘!
𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗔𝗚𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗗𝗘𝗙𝗘𝗡𝗗 𝗖𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗖 𝗦𝗣𝗔𝗖𝗘!
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𝗘𝗗𝗦𝗔 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁. It was a culmination of a steadily ripening crisis marked by repression, economic hardship, and widespread disenfranchisement. Civil society organizations (CSOs) were born precisely because of the truth that the state failed to meet the needs of its people. Instead of being recognized as major partners in delivering much-needed services to communities, CSOs were subjected to surveillance, attacks, and threats under the Marcos Sr. administration.

Forty years after the 1986 EDSA People Power, CSOs, development, and humanitarian actors fail to see the difference in how we are being treated under the past and present Marcos administrations.

𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆, 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆, 𝘀𝗵𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻, 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗿𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀.

We are being red-tagged, surveilled, and accused of trumped-up charges. Our resources, staff, and programs are all being policed– all in the name of legitimate humanitarian work.

𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗮 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗴-𝗶𝗯𝗮 𝗸𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗼 𝗽𝗮 𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗽 𝘀𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝗮. Therefore, much like our predecessors who fought the militant fight, the work of CSOs today is not only valid– it is urgent.

As our people continue to grapple with rising practice, low minimum wage, back-to-back climate disasters, land conflicts, and threats to democratic freedom, us development workers must continue to fill gaps in social services and assert the people’s rights to development and dignity.

𝗨𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆, 𝗰𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲: 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿. The struggle for freedom and social justice did not end in 1986. It continues wherever the rights of the people are curtailed and wherever development work is treated as a crime. (25 February 2026)

24/02/2026

𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺!
𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀!
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The Defend NGOs Alliance (DNA) Visayas welcomes the dismissal of the civil forfeiture case against Jazmin “Minet” Aguisanda-Jerusalem, Director of the Leyte Center for Development, Inc. (LCDe), DNA National Spokesperson, and Officer and Spokesperson of the Citizens’ Disaster Response Network. The case was heard before the Regional Trial Court Branch 28 at Manila City Hall.

In April 2024, LCDe’s bank accounts, including donations from foreign partners, were frozen under government orders. The February 20 order of the Manila RTC Branch 28 affirmed that asset-freezing measures cannot rest on conjecture or unsupported allegations, but must be grounded on competent evidence establishing probable cause, according to the National Union of People’s Lawyers. The court found that the petition failed to credibly link the questioned bank accounts and transactions to unlawful activity under the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) and the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act (TFPSA). It also cited serious gaps in the financial investigation, including an unreconciled timeline, lack of reliable proof of alleged organizational links, and failure to meaningfully examine the legitimate nature of the NGO’s work and funding sources.

Despite this development, Ms. Jerusalem continues to face three counts of terrorism financing filed in May 2024. Although the Tacloban Prosecutors’ Office dropped the first charge in December 2024, it was revived after an appeal by the Philippine National Police was granted. She has disclosed that her court proceedings are expected to run until December this year, with an average of two hearings per month, on top of another civil case related to a forfeiture order issued by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗮 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗚𝗢𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗮𝘀.

In May 2023, 27 staff, board, and consortium members of CERNET were charged under Republic Act No. 10168 by a military official from the Joint Task Force Cebu. The complaint included individuals already deceased at the time of filing and others who no longer reside in the Philippines.

On January 2, 2025, two staff members of a people’s development group (PDG), along with another individual, were charged with terrorism financing. The Iloilo Regional Trial Court Branch 31 granted their Motion to Quash on March 14, 2025, and on April 22, 2025, denied the prosecution’s motion for reconsideration.

In Eastern Visayas, community journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and lay worker Marielle Domequil were convicted of terrorism financing on January 22 after more than five years in detention. Based on recycled witness testimonies, they were sentenced to 12 to 18 years of imprisonment and fined Php 500,000 each. Their conviction raises grave concerns about due process and the chilling effect on journalists and humanitarian workers.

These cases in the region manifest a trend of having development work framed as criminal acts, with disaster response, economic projects, and poverty alleviation initiatives being terrorist advances. When resources are frozen, and development workers are forced to spend years defending themselves in court, the communities suffer. The people lose access to vital services.

𝗔𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟭𝟵’𝘀 𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁, 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 “𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀! 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀! 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀! 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲’𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁! 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺! 𝗡𝗧𝗙-𝗘𝗟𝗖𝗔𝗖 𝗯𝘂𝘄𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻! 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝘀𝗮 𝗸𝗮𝗻𝗮𝘆𝘂𝗻𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻!”, 𝗗𝗡𝗔 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗮𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲’𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲. (24 February 2026)