Human rights worker Felipe “Ipe” Gelle of Human Rights Advocates in Negros (HRAN) in a press conference earlier today, July 1, shared his testimony following his six-day detention on terrorism financing charges.
“Serving the people is not a crime,” Gelle declared during the press conference held on July 1 alongside Berlita Ante of Bayan Negros.
Gelle said he voluntarily surrendered on June 24 after they were able to raise funds for his bail, amounting to P1 million for five counts under Section 8 of RA 10168 or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act.
He said his detention was unnecessarily prolonged due to what he described as the “dilly-dallying tactics” of the CIDG Bacolod, which delayed securing and transmitting required documents despite the bail being ready.
“Supposedly, I should have been released immediately after posting bail, but some documents were either withheld or not provided by CIDG, causing the delay,” Gelle said.
Gelle recounted that he and four others—including Clarissa Ramos, Federico Salvilla, Perla Pavillar, and Dharyl Albañez—are facing charges based on what he called recycled accusations.
He said the cases were filed in court as early as December 3, 2024, and that he had been aware of the warrants since then.
Gelle questioned the basis of the charges, saying they rest merely on the claims of a lone witness, allegedly an enlisted member of the Philippine Army assigned to the 62nd Infantry Battalion in Isabela.
“I surfaced voluntarily when we had secured bail because I am confident this will be dismissed like the previous cases,” Gelle said.
He pointed out that identical charges against his colleagues had been quashed by the Iloilo Regional Trial Court in February 2025, citing the unconstitutionality of the “supranational designation” provision used in the cases.
Under the law, Gelle said, only the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) proscription or a UN declaration can be valid bases for labeling an organization as terrorist, and no such proscription exists against the CPP-NPA.
“If one cries out for justice, does that make him a terrorist?” Gelle asked during the press conference.
He said true peace will only come with genuine development and urged the public to continue fighting for the truth.
Gelle also called for the abolition of the NTF-ELCAC, which he said exists only to persecute activists instead of addressing poverty and injustice.
Berlita Ante of Bayan Negros condemned the attacks on Gelle and said his case reflects a broader crackdown on activists even in urban centers under Marcos Jr.’s National Action Plan for Unity, Peace, and Development (NAP-UPD).
Gelle said his legal team is considering filing a petition for a writ of amparo for his protection as threats against him persist.
“I will not stop serving the people, especially in our work for human rights,” Gelle said.
Paghimutad 