Stop the political persecution of Cordilleran activists, peace and justice advocates!
Immediately dismiss the trumped-up charges! Free all political prisoners!
The Asia-Pacific Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (APCHRP) condemns in the strongest terms the brazen and repressive operations carried out jointly by the Armed Forces of the Philippines(AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP). Ten individuals have been arrested on clearly fabricated charges, and we demand the immediate surfacing of the two individuals who remain missing.
On March 11, the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) reported that 12 individuals were targeted in joint AFP and PNP operations conducted in Quezon City and Tarlac City. The 5th Infantry Battalion falsely claimed that those apprehended were members of “Ilocos-Cordelliera Regional Committee”; however, CHRA asserts that the individuals were unarmed civilians.
Arrested in Barangay Baras-Baras, Tarlac City were NDFP consultant Gabriel Kennedy Bangibang, Dr. Ana Marie Rilloraza, Theresa Forag, Ranee Francella Tuazon, Renato Ginez, Marc Mendiola, and Javar Sugao.
These individuals are protected under the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), which explicitly prohibits their surveillance, harassment, and arrest. Bangibang, an NDFP consultant for the Cordilleras and National Minorities, and a delegate to the 2016 peace talks, is reportedly being detained in Tabuk, Kalinga City.
In Quezon City, those arrested include Jess Gamay Langay, Bobby Calsiyao Yag-ao, and another individual, who were brought to Camp Karingal. Jess Gamay Lang-ay and one companion are currently missing after reportedly being “released” due to lack of charges, while Yag-ao remains in detention. The coalition raises grave concern that this may constitute yet another case of enforced disappearance perpetrated by the state.
The coalition calls for the immediate dismissal of all trumped-up charges against those arrested in Tarlac, who were reportedly planted with firearms and explosives. We further demand the immediate surfacing of the two missing individuals.
The state must be held accountable and compelled to uphold its obligations under international humanitarian law, including the protection against arbitrary arrest, detention, and enforced disappearance. Further, the APCHRP joins the Filipino people calling to abolish NTFELCAC, and address the root causes of unpeace in the Philippines. ###
