13/05/2026
PDG Stands in Solidarity with Estrella Catarata and the CERNET 27
As the court hearing on the civil case filed by Estrella Catarata proceeds today, the Paghida-et sa Kauswagan Development Group, Inc. (PDG, Inc.) expresses its solidarity and support for Estrella Catarata of SIBAT and the CERNET 27 in their continuing fight against red-tagging, harassment, and the weaponization of laws against development workers and people’s organizations.
For decades, PDG has worked alongside poor farmers and marginalized rural communities in Negros Occidental in advancing food security, sustainable agriculture, community empowerment, and the protection of people’s rights and welfare. Through the years, we have also experienced vilification, intimidation, and baseless accusations simply because we continue to work with communities struggling against poverty, landlessness, food insecurity, and environmental destruction.
The filing of the civil case represents an important step in holding accountable those who continue to use red-tagging and false accusations against development workers and civil society organizations. These attacks do not only endanger individuals and organizations; they also create fear among communities and organizations genuinely working for the welfare of the marginalized sectors.
We recognize the experience of Estrella Catarata and the CERNET 27 because many organizations doing legitimate development and humanitarian work have faced the same pattern of attacks — being labelled and accused without credible evidence in an attempt to silence critical voices and weaken people’s organizations.
Development work is not terrorism. Working for agrarian reform, food security, environmental protection, and community empowerment is not a crime.
We call for:
• An immediate end to red-tagging and all forms of harassment against development workers, people’s organizations, and humanitarian institutions;
• Accountability for those who abuse state mechanisms and public platforms to spread baseless accusations;
• The protection of civic and democratic spaces where communities and civil society organizations can freely continue their legitimate work;
• The dismissal of unfounded charges against the CERNET 27.
In the face of continuing intimidation and repression, PDG remains committed to standing with the marginalized sectors and defending the civic spaces necessary for people to organize, speak, and act for their rights and collective welfare.
We continue to monitor the ongoing proceedings and stand in solidarity with Estrella Catarata and all development workers and human rights defenders facing politically motivated harassment and baseless accusations.
