Groups reiterate call to remove terrorist tag vs Cordillera Peoples Alliance leaders

MANILA — Various groups protested in front of the Court of Appeals to call for the removal of the terrorist designation of Cordillera Peoples Alliance leaders Windel Bolinget, Sarah Abellon-Alikes, Jennier Awingan-Taggaoa and Stephen Tauli. 

Katribu and Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) called on the court for an impartial review of their challenge before the court against the Anti-Terrorism Council.

“We urge a review that fully considers the circumstances surrounding their work and advocacy, with due regard for their rights and dignity,” Katribu said in a statement. 

CHRA reiterated that the four have spent years defending indigenous peoples rights, ancestral land and resources and human rights in the Cordilleras. 

“The use of terror laws must never become a shortcut to silence dissent and criminalize legitimate advocacy,” CHRA said.