Karapatan-Central Luzon welcomes the dismissal by a court in Malolos City, Bulacan of the 84th IB’s charge of “terrorism” or violation of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 against Central Luzon teachers’ organizer Au Santiago and 28 others. The group announced the case’ dismissal on August 7.

“The dismissal of the complaints…exposes the fabricated lies against Santiago and 28 other respondents and that such charges were made to threaten, harass, intimidate Santiago in a desperate attempt to dissuade her from doing her work as a union organizer and a human rights defender,” the group said.

Santiago is currently a member of the national council of the ACT Teachers Partylist, national vice president for Luzon of Koalisyong Makabayan, coordinator of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers and general secretary of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Central Luzon. She is the widow of Willem Geertman, a Dutchman who promotes the welfare of workers and poor sectors in Central Luzon, who was the victim of an extra-judicial killing in 2012.

Karapatan-Central Luzon said Santiago experienced intense repression from state forces when the National Task Force-Elcac was established by virtue of Executive Order 70 of the then Duterte regime. “[She] has been at the receiving end of incessant attacks on her life, liberty, and security for several years,” the group said.

With the dismissal of the “terrorism” case against Santiago, Karapatan-Central Luzon hopes that similar cases filed in regional courts against activists and organizers will also be junked or dismissed.

“We call for accountability for those involved in these forms of judicial harassment against activists, human rights defenders, and ordinary civilians,” the group said. They said the case is also proof that the “terror law” is being used against the people and thus should be repealed.