The Paghidaet sa Kauswagan Development Group (PDG) on Thursday, May 9, called for the junking of charges against five development workers for alleged terrorism financing and asked the Commission on Human Rights to ensure the “protection of these human rights defenders”.
On April 29, five individuals, including four officials from PDG, were charged with violation of Section 8 of the Republic Act 10168 or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Law.
The five are former PDG Executive Director Clarisa Ramos, former PDG Advocacy Staff Felipe Levy Gelle Jr., PDG Community Organizers Federico Salvilla and Perla Pavilla, and former Executive Director of Kristyanong Mangunguma Lubos Itib-ong ang Grupo Inc. (KMALIG) Dharryl Albanez.
PDG, in a press statement, said the charges were based on alleged investigations conducted by the Deputized Anti-Money Laundering Financial Investigator (DAFI) of the Police Regional Office-6.
PDG said that the charges were based on malicious lies of a lone witness and statements from alleged New People’s Army members.*