Authorities officially dismissed the complaint of “terrorism financing” or violation of the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act (TFPSA) of 2012, which state forces filed against Myrna Zapanta, a church figure and a farmers’ rights advocate in Ilocos. The Department of Justice (DoJ) resolution dated May 29 stated that the evidence was insufficient and the state witnesses failed to prove their allegations against Zapanta.

The Solidarity of Peasants Against Exploitation (STOP Exploitation), Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas’ regional chapter in Ilocos, recognized the DoJ decision. Zapanta is the group’s current Social Welfare Desk head.

The police filed the complaint against Zapanta in October 2024. They accused her of financing the New People’s Army (NPA), which the reactionary government arbitrarily declared “terrorist.” Police also implicated Lenville Salvador and Petronila Guzman in the case.

The police used self-proclaimed NPA member Avelino Dacanay as witness to pin down Zapanta. However, the DoJ ruling stated that Dacanay’s claims and his so-called “confession” as a Red fighter were not enough.

“The dismissal of the TFPSA of 2012 complaint against Zapanta only proves how state agents weaponizes the law to harass mass organizations, development workers, and activists,” according to STOP Exploitation. The group added that weaponizing the law solely aims to portray service to vulnerable communities as terrorism.

The group also stated that the case further exposed the state agents’ modus of using fake former rebels to advance their fabricated cases. STOP Exploitation revealed that Dacanay, the “witness” the police used, was a former member of their organization and not a “former rebel.”

Zapanta expressed her gratitude to all individuals, the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI), and organizations that supported her in facing the case. “As part of the Social Welfare Desk of STOP Exploitation, I firmly believe that helping farmers, fisherfolk, indigenous people, and other vulnerable sectors of society who are continually deprived of social services is never wrong,” she said.

Meanwhile, STOP Exploitation declared that they will continue to push for an investigation into how state agents weaponizes the law to harass activists and development workers.

In late 2024, the criminalization of development workers, activists, and other groups under “terrorism financing” was exposed as part of the Marcos regime’s so-called “Project Exit the Greylist.” The 2021 “Order of Battle” was also exposed, which listed known church people, development workers, and activists as targets for prosecution.