Human Rights Advocates in Negros (HRAN) condemned the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Bacolod City for its tactic to deliberately delay processing human rights advocate Felipe Gelle’s documents and papers towards posting post bail. CIDG Bacolod used various pretexts to prolong his detention, in violation of his rights.
Gelle voluntarily surrendered to CIDG-Bacolod to face what he called fabricated charges of violating the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012, that was filed by state forces. He currently remains detained at CIDG-Negros Island Region in Camingawan, Bacolod City.
The arrest warrant issued by Judge Cyril Regalado of Iloilo City Regional Trial Court Branch 31 on January 15 set the bail amount at ₱200,000. Lawyers currently cannot process the bail because the warrant was allegedly returned to the court, and police are again waiting for new orders.
“Despite formal communications from Gelle’s lawyer requesting that the necessary documents be transmitted, no meaningful action has been taken to move the process forward,” HRAN stated. The group called CIDG-Bacolod’s delay a blatant act of harassment and injustice.
HRAN called for support for Gelle and his fight for freedom, and for the criminal case filed against him to be dismissed outright.
Earlier, police arrested others linked to the “terrorism financing” case in January, including Federico Salvilla and Perla Pavilla, who later posted bail and were release. Another PDG member, Dharyl Albanez, “surrendered” to police and was also released after posting bail.
The victims are development workers associated with Paghida-et sa Kauswagan Development Group Incorporated (PDG Inc). PDG Inc is an organization in the central and southern parts of Negros Island that promotes the rights of farmers and fisherfolk for sustainable agriculture and social reform. The organization was established in the 1980s.
