Court clears CERNET 27’ in terror financing case

CEBU, Philippines —  A Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Cebu City has dismissed the terrorism financing case against the so-called “CERNET 27,” marking what the respondents described as a major victory for human rights defenders, development workers, and civil society organizations accused under anti-terrorism laws.

In a decision dated May 15, 2026, and released on May 18, RTC Branch 74 Pairing Judge Van Russel Inopiquez granted the joint motion to dismiss filed by the legal counsels of the Cebu Community Network Inc. (CERNET) on March 31, 2026.

According to a CERNET press statement, the case, filed under the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012 or the Anti-Terror Financing Law, was dismissed after the court ruled that the acts allegedly committed did not constitute a crime under the law in force at the time of their commission and due to the lack of a statutory publication requirement.

The complaint stemmed from allegations that 27 directors and staff members of CERNET allegedly funded the New People’s Army (NPA).

The respondents said the dismissal highlighted the “dangers of using counterterrorism laws” against humanitarian and development work, alleging that such laws have been weaponized by sectors within the government’s security apparatus, particularly the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict or NTF-ELCAC.

The accused argued that the case reflected a broader pattern of red-tagging, harassment, and legal persecution directed at non-government organizations, people’s organizations, and human rights advocates working in marginalized communities.

The original complaint was filed on May 23, 2023, by then-Philippine Army Colonel Joey A. Escanillas, who was serving as commander of Joint Task Force Cebu at the time.

A year later, Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Peter Ong, who headed the NTF-ELCAC legal task force, filed the information before RTC Branch 74 in Cebu City.

According to the respondents, the list of accused included three individuals who had already died years before the filing of the case.

Following the filing of the complaint, Escanillas was later promoted to brigadier general.

Despite the dismissal, the respondents expressed concern over pending legislative measures such as the proposed “terror-grooming” bill filed by Senator Ronald dela Rosa, warning that such measures could further expand the government’s authority to target “dissent, activism, and community organizing under counterterrorism policies.”

The accused also announced plans to pursue criminal, administrative, and civil cases against individuals and agencies they claimed were responsible for the alleged wrongful prosecution.

“Those who orchestrated, enabled, and perpetuated these baseless accusations must be held accountable under the law,” said Oliver Gimenez, one of the respondents.

“Accountability cannot apply only to ordinary citizens; it must also extend to public officials and State actors who abuse legal processes to persecute dissenters and development workers,” said another respondent, Nancy Estolloso.

Another respondent, Estrella Flores Catarata, said the dismissal represented a victory not only for the CERNET 27 but also for advocates defending human rights, development work, and democratic freedoms.

Catarata also expressed gratitude to the lawyers who provided pro bono legal assistance, as well as to the embassies and international agencies that extended support to the respondents throughout the case. — (FREEMAN)