KATRIBU Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas, together with fellow human rights defenders, protested at the Department of Justice in Manila on Wednesday, as part of the commemoration of the International Women Human Rights Defenders Day on November 29.
Indigenous women remain at the forefront of defending their ancestral lands and asserting their right to self-determination. Yet, their communities continue to face plunder, militarization, bombings, and relentless human rights violations.
Since the implementation of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, Indigenous Peoples have been subjected to fabricated charges and arbitrary designations as terrorists by the Anti-Terrorism Council. In 2020, two Aeta from Central Luzon were the first victims of this draconian law, with their cases dismissed due to insufficient evidence and inconsistent testimonies by the military.
In 2023, Lumad doctor Naty Castro and four Cordillera leaders—Windel Bolinget, Jennifer Awingan, Stephen Tauli, and Sarah Abellon-Alikes—were arbitrarily designated as terrorists after facing trumped-up charges. Meanwhile, Manobo woman Julieta Gomez and Lumad rights defender Niezel Velasco remain wrongfully imprisoned, highlighting the continuous persecution of Indigenous activists. Most recently, in October 2024, Kankanaey woman Marcylyn Pilala was falsely charged under Republic Act 10168, or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012, accused of selling groceries to alleged NPA rebels.
“Indigenous Peoples’ fight for their rights are legitimate and valid. However, we are being criminalized and relentlessly attacked. Instead of persecuting us, it is human rights violators like Rodrigo and Sara Duterte who should be arrested and jailed. Bongbong Marcos must also be held accountable for perpetuating and enabling these widespread rights violations,” said Beverly Longid, national convener of KATRIBU.
KATRIBU calls for an end to the persecution of Indigenous Peoples. Free all Indigenous women political prisoners! Drop the trumped-up charges against Indigenous women rights defenders! Junk the Anti-Terrorism Law and other repressive policies that criminalize legitimate dissent! #
Reference:
Beverly Longid
KATRIBU National Convener
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