Court victory for Cordillera activist affirms dangers of red-tagging – advocates
In her decision, Adobe-Cabuag said that Bolinget was able to satisfactorily prove, “by preponderance of evidence, his entitlement for damages.”
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In her decision, Adobe-Cabuag said that Bolinget was able to satisfactorily prove, “by preponderance of evidence, his entitlement for damages.”
“While we at CPA continue to seek legal remedies to ensure our safety, security, and human rights in this shrinking democratic space, the state also weaponizes everything at its disposal to silence us."
"We ask the Supreme Court not to wait for red-tagging and death threats to materialize into extrajudicial killings, or detention, trumped-up charges and even abductions to become enforced disappearances."
“The decision of the trial court is but another knot in the long line of similar fabricated cases filed against activists and eventually dismissed because they are that – fabrications.”
In his reinvestigation report dated May 24, Prosecution Attorney James Noel V. Morente stated, “After a careful perusal of the records of this case, this office is constrained to dismiss the instant complaint for lack of probable cause against the aforementioned accused-movants.”
“The arrest warrant is the legal cover for the potential commission of other human rights violations and irregularities such as the planting of firearms and explosives to justify additional non-bailable charges. Such was the experience of other activists such as Rey Casambre, Maoj Maga, Alexander Reyes and many others.”
His appearance came a day after Police Regional Office Cordillera Regional Director R’win Pagkalinawan issued a shoot-to-kill order should he resist arrest.
“Pagkalinawan’s statement is a pretext for the speedy extra-judicial killing of [Windel] Bolinget before law and evidence will prove that this is a false charge."
Cordillera People's Alliance and Bolinget’s family fear for his safety, noting that he can be subjected to a “tokhang-style execution” if he gets arrested and transported to Davao Del Norte for his case.
“If States are really in good faith in adopting the UNDRIP and adhering to international human rights standards, why did they not accept and consider our proposal and call for an end to militarization of indigenous peoples and their territories?” – Windel Bolinget, Cordillera Peoples Alliance
BY MARIE CONIE DUERME Northern Dispatch Posted by Bulatlat.com The commemoration of the Cordillera Day is an event that has become the biggest annual political solidarity gathering of indigenous peoples not only in the Cordillera Region but also worldwide. This day...
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