Manila trial court clears 2 Cordillerans of terrorist tag

BAGUIO CITY -- A Manila court has cleared two Cordillerans of terrorist tag.
Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 19 Judge Marlo Magdoza-Malagar last week cleared and removed the names of UN rapporteur Vicky Tauli Corpuz and lawyer Jose Molintas, a former Baguio City councilor from the Department of Justice terror list.

Councilors Art Allad-iw and Faustino Olowan in a joint statement said they welcomed the court decision.

The government through the DOJ earlier filed a petition to declare the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army as terrorist organizations under the Human Security Act and listed over 600 names alleged to be officers and members of the CPP/NPA.

“The dropping of names of Molintas and Tauli- Corpuz is a vindication,” said the joint statement, adding the previous resolution asking the government to drop the tag insists the tagged individuals are residents of the city and have never joined the revolutionary groups but are passionate and active with their advocacy on human rights and indigenous peoples rights both locally and internationally.

Others from the Cordillera included in the terrorist tag were Joan Carling, a Kankanaey from Sagada, former CPA Chairperson, and former Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) Secretary-General; Beverly Longid, a Bontok-Kankanaey activist from Cordillera, and the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL) Global Coordinator, and Katribu International Solidarity Officer; Joanna Cariño, an Ibaloi elder and activist, SANDUGO co-chairperson; Windel Bolinget, a Bontok-Kankanaey, Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) chairperson, and Katribu National Convener; and Jeanette Ribaya Cawiding, a Kankaney from Besao Mountain Province and former chairman of Tontongan Ti Umili.

Allad-iw and Olowan urged the court to drop the names of the other Cordillerans.