STOP THE PERSECUTION OF STEPHANIE BORINAGA!
STOP THE PERSECUTION OF STEPHANIE BORINAGA!
Filipino youth are compassionate, critically minded, and aspiring for a corruption-free Philippines
For Immediate Release
The Asia Pacific Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (APCHRP) strongly condemns the ongoing red-tagging, vilification, and threats against youth activist, student, and researcher Stephanie Borinaga, who is now being targeted by the fascist Marcos Jr. regime through paid trolls and state agencies such as the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
Stephanie is a young volunteer who chose to live among farmers and Indigenous Mangyan communities in Mindoro to understand and document the real conditions faced by the people – worsening poverty, land grabbing, the entry of foreign mining corporations, and the heavy militarization carried out by the regime’s mercenary armed forces. “What Stephanie did is not a crime. It is an act of conscience, compassion, and critical thinking – qualities that an oppressive state fears,” said Sr. Patricia Fox, Spokesperson of the Coalition.
Instead of addressing the root causes of poverty and violence in rural communities, the state has chosen to vilify politically conscious youth and brand their humanitarian and research work as so-called “terror grooming.” But the Filipino people know the truth: the real terrorism is the bombing of communities, the killing of Indigenous Mangyan children, and the systematic attacks against civilians.
Stephanie is a witness and survivor of the brutal aerial bombing carried out by the 203rd Infantry Battalion in Mindoro – an atrocity that the state is now attempting to erase and distort through disinformation and intimidation. Despite this, she courageously released a video statement exposing the truth and condemning the NTF-ELCAC press conference that falsely portrayed her as “deceived” and “manipulated.” “She was not fooled. She is conscious and aware. She voluntarily lived with the people of Mindoro in solidarity with their legitimate struggle,” Sr. Fox emphasized. “The theft, violence, and intimidation carried out by the state – and the branding of those who resist as ‘terrorists’ – are clear manifestations of fascism.”
The Coalition unequivocally condemns the systematic red-tagging and lies propagated by agencies controlled by Malacañang, which deliberately place the lives of activists, researchers, and human rights defenders in grave danger. “Marcos Jr. and the Armed Forces of the Philippines are the real terrorists – showing utter disregard for human rights, lives, and livelihoods, and willing to use violence to protect their own interests,” Sr. Fox added.
The Asia Pacific Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines stands in full solidarity with Stephanie Borinaga and all youth who continue to resist oppression and stand with farmers, workers, Indigenous peoples, and other basic sectors of Philippine society.
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For reference:
Sister Patricia Fox
Spokesperson
Email: apchrp2019@gmail.com
