Altermidya
By KIMBERLIE QUITASOL
Northern Dispatch
BAGUIO CITY — The Baguio City Council has unanimously adopted a resolution calling on the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) to rescind the terrorist designation of four Cordillera activists and residents of the city during its regular session on Monday, October 2.
The resolution, authored by councilor and human rights lawyer Jose Molintas, said Cordillera Peoples Alliance members Sarah Abellon-Alikes, Jennifer Awingan-Taggaoa, Windel Bolinget, and Stephen Tauli are “well-known human rights defenders.” It also mentioned that CPA’s local affiliates in the city “are actively participating in the City Development Council.”
In a July 10 press release, the ATC announced the designation of the four CPA leaders, alleging that they are leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines in the Ilocos and Cordillera regions.
Caution
The resolution recognized the need for terrorist designation. However, it also cautioned the ATC of using this process “based on biased and doubtful” information gathered by law enforcement agencies.
“[They] are passionate and active in their advocacy for human rights and indigenous peoples’ rights both local and international… [and] their designation as terrorists by the Anti-Terrorism Council would not only deny their rights to due process but now pose grave threats to their lives and threat of their friends and families,” the resolution stated.
The measure noted the case filed against the four activists in Abra for rebellion, which the court later dismissed for lack of probable cause. It also cited calls from international institutions, including the UN special rapporteur, to drop the terrorist tag against human rights defenders.
The city council also urged the ATC “to be more cautious in the declaration of groups or individuals as terrorists without due process and do the designation after a thorough verification and validation of the evidence.”
Laudable action
Progressive groups lauded the city council for passing the resolution, the first in the country where a local government has stood by its residents accused of being ‘terrorists’ under the Anti-Terrorism Law.
“The move to secure the much-needed civic and democratic space for human rights defenders is a strong foundation for building Baguio as a human rights city and is very worthy of recognition, especially during these difficult times,” said the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance in a statement.
Meanwhile, Tongtongan ti Umili, the Metro-Baguio chapter of CPA, is hopeful that this development “serves as a stepping stone for a greater leap towards the realization of Baguio City as an inclusive human rights city.”
“There is no room for oppression in Baguio, a city that promises itself as a space to ‘breathe’, a safe space for activists and critical voices,” the group stated.
Tongtongan also urged the city council to pass the Human Rights Defenders Ordinance and repeal “anti-democratic policies such as the restricting “no rallies” park guidelines, among others.”
“We shall persist in our work to promote democracy, people-centered development, and healthy criticism in Baguio and beyond — all towards making Baguio truly a city for its people. The umili of Baguio deserves nothing less,” the group said.
Not the first
But this is not the first time local officials have supported activists residing in the city.
In 2018, the council also urged the Department of Justice to drop the names of several activists who were included in the petition to proscribe the CPP and New People’s Army as terrorist organizations.
The body also rejected a resolution of the Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee promoting Tokhang against activists.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong has repeatedly assured that activists are safe in the city. He also prohibited red-tagging in the city, especially those targeting youth and student leaders. # nordis.net
