Supporters of Paghidaet sa Kauswagan Development Group (PDG) Inc, along with members of other mass organizations, picketed before the Hall of Justice in Bacolod City yesterday, May 10. They denounced the “terrorism financing” charges against four members of PDG Inc and one supporter of the organization and called for its dismissal.

PDG Inc earlier said that the filing of charges of “terrorism financing” or violation of the Terrorism Financing and Suppression Act of 2012 against some active and former members of the organization is unjust. It insists, the state is using these allegations to make the organization appear illegitimate and impose sanctions on it.

A case was filed against Clarissa Ramos, widow of the murdered lawyer Atty. Benjamin Ramos; Felipe Levy Gelle, Federico Salvilla, and Perla Pavillar. Ramos, like her late lawyer husband, was the former Executive Director and founder of PDG Inc. Also implicated was Darryl Albañez, who is not a member of PDG Inc, but cooperates with the group in its activities.

The case was filed by PMSG Francisco John Dumdumaya, deputized Anti-money Laundering Council Financial Investigator and member of the Regional Intelligence Division of the PNP Regional Police Office 6. It is based on the sworn statements of Jonel Roy Moreno who identifies himself as “finance and logistics officer and commander” of “Tahod Ilahas Command of the CPP-NPA” operating allegedly in Negros, and of Danilo and Jeonna Dela Cruz who identify themselves as members of the local fisherfolk association in Cauyan, Negros Occidental.

This lawsuit against PDG Inc is another severe attack on the organization, according to them. Since 2018, PDG Inc has faced a series of attacks from the state when government forces assassinated Atty. Ramos Jr, then the group’s executive director.

PDG Inc is an organization in the central and southern part of Negros Island and promotes the rights of farmers and fishermen for sustainable agriculture and social reform. The organization was founded in the 1980s.