The recent attack against the CPA leaders violates their civil and political rights under the Constitution and international policies. [Philippine Task Force for Indigenous Peoples' Rights - TFIP]
July 11, 2023
Exactly two months ago, a court in Abra quashed the trumped-up rebellion charges against the Northern Luzon 7. The May 11 decision of Judge Corpuz Alzate of the Bangued Regional Trial Court Branch 2 cited the individuals "were NEVER identified…. (and) hereby EXCLUDED from the information for lack of probable cause."
In a press statement yesterday, July 10, the Anti-Terrorism Council declared four individuals of the Northern Luzon 7 as terrorists. The state accused Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) leaders Windel Bolinget, Sarah Alikes, Jennifer Awingan, and Steve Tauli of being part of the Regional White Area Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines Ilocos-Cordillera Committee.
The recent attack against the CPA leaders violates their civil and political rights under the Constitution and international policies. We urge human rights groups and Indigenous Peoples' rights advocates to call for the retraction of the Anti-Terrorism Council's Resolution No. 41 and the scrapping of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.