Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women strongly condemns the baseless and unjust decision of Manila RTC Branch 18 on August 6 ordering the government to confiscate two bank accounts of the organization.
“This is clearly part of the ongoing harassment and red-tagging under the Marcos administration, aimed at vilifying and suppressing organizations with just and legitimate causes,” Amihan national chairperson Zenaida Soriano stated.
The court order came from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) based on a case filed against the organization in May 2021 under the Terrorism Financing and Prevention and Suppression Act. The state maliciously accuses the group of funding the armed movement.
Amihan also criticized the AMLC’s decision, which it said relied on baseless testimonies from two so-called “former rebels.”
“The roughly ₱200,000 in our accounts is a significant amount for our livelihood programs, and advocacy work. These funds come from donations of friends and supporters who believe in our advocacy and the programs we provide,” Soriano explained.
The group said this ruling insults them and shows a lack of justice amid Sara Duterte’s lack of accountability for the ₱612 million of public funds she squandered.
Other groups including Rural Women’s Advocates (RUWA), Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Sama-Samang Artista para sa Kilusang Agraryo (SAKA), and Asian Peasant Coalition (APC) also condemned the court decision.
“While previous and current regimes neglect, harass, and oppress poor peasant women and communities, Amihan tirelessly campaigns for land rights, food, livelihood, and justice. Because of this, the group has become a target of relentless red-tagging and harassment by the NTF-ELCAC.” RUWA stated.
The peasant groups call on all organizations, allies, and citizens to stand and join the fight against the US-Marcos regime’s tyrannical abuse of power and to defend the Filipino people’s democratic rights.
