The Regional Trial Court Branch 74 based in Cebu City has dropped the charges of financing terrorism against a deceased Church leader in Negros Oriental ,and other deceased human rights advocates.
Msgr. Merlin Logronio, who headed a church-based advocacy group until his demise several years ago, and Geraldine Labradores, were cleared of any culpability from the charges filed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The court decision was hailed by the Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights (Karapatan) in Central Visayas as “triumph of truth”.
In a statement, the Karapatan said the decision underscores the lack of investigation by the Department of Justice when it took the cudgel for the AFP in harassing the Community Empowerment & Resource Network Inc. (CERNet).
The DOJ filed the case from the complaint of the 302nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army against some NGOs in Negros Oriental and the Visayas for allegedly providing funding support to the New People’s Army- Communist Terrorist Group.
Brig. Gen. Joey Escanillas, commander of the 302nd Brigade, said that based on the evidence they recovered, the said NGOs allegedly violated Republic Act 10168, also known as the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.
The Army filed charges against the Negros Oriental Network of NGOs (NegOrNet), the Silliman University Center for Extension & Development, the Tuburan for Rural Women Empowerment & Development Inc., the Panaghugpong sa mga Gagmay nga Bayanihang Grupo sa Negros Oriental (PaGBaG-o), the Central Visayas Farmers Development Center, CERNet, and three other NGOs, Escanillas disclosed.
