Felipe Levy Gelle*
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested a Negrense activist facing charges for alleged violation of the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012 in Barangay Villamonte, Bacolod City, on Tuesday, June 24.
Felipe Levy Gelle, former advocacy staff of the Paghidaet sa Kauswagan Development Group and a volunteer of the Human Rights Advocates Negros, was arrested by virtue of a warrant, Col. Arwin Tadeo, CIDG-Negros Island Region chief, said Thursday.
The warrant of arrest was issued by Judge Cyril Regalado of the Iloilo City Regional Trial Court Branch 31 on Jan. 15, 2025, with bail set at P200,000.
Gelle is detained at the CIDG-Negros Island Region office in Camingawan, Bacolod City.
The CIDG has already returned the warrant of arrest of Gelle and is waiting for the commitment order for his transfer to whatever jail facility ordered by the court, Tadeo said.
While the CIDG said he was arrested, Gelle said he surrendered to face the trumped up charges filed against him by the Department of Justice and the police.
The Philippine Army is behind the concocted charges against him, Gelle claimed.
“I am innocent of the charges filed against me…this is harassment,” he said.
He said more than 100 activists fighting for social reform in the whole country have been charged for alleged violation of the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.*