Dear Friends,

The human rights situation in the Philippines is deteriorating with the widespread cases of extrajudicial killings and ongoing attacks against voices critical to the government. Latest, a petition filed in court by the Philippine State Prosecutor of the Department of Justice (DOJ), seek to have a number of indigenous peoples’ leaders and human rights defenders declared as terrorist and outlaws pursuant to the National Security Act of 2007.

The list of alleged terrorists includes the following renowned indigenous leaders and human rights defenders from the Cordillera Region:

1. Ms. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, former Chairperson of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues;

2. Ms. Joan Carling, Co-convener of the Indigenous Peoples Major Group on the Sustainable Development Goals, former Secretary General of the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) and member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues;

3. Ms. Joanna Cariño, member of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) Advisory Council and SANDUGO co-chairperson;

4. Mr. Windel Bolinget, Chairperson of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA);

5. Atty. Jose Molintas, human rights lawyer and former member of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP);

6. Ms. Beverly Longid, global coordinator for the Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation;

7. Ms. Jeanette Ribaya Cawiding, Regional Coordinator of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers – Cordillera; and

8. Mr. Sherwin De Vera, Regional Coordinator of DEFEND- Ilocos and member of the Save The Abra River Movement (STARM)

An estimate of around ten (10) indigenous peoples’ leaders and human rights advocates from Mindanao are also included in this list. With this, we seek for your support by endorsing the attached letter of concern to be sent to the Philippine government by sending the NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION AND COUNTRY to the following email addresses:

[email protected] and [email protected].

The deadline for endorsements is on MARCH 18, 2018. For individuals who wish to endorse this letter you can sign on to our letter in Change.Org in this link: http://bit.ly/2Fw56lm We also encourage everyone to send letters of concern to the Philippine Embassies in your respective countries and the government officials listed in the attached letter of concern. Kindly inform us ([email protected]) of any actions you have undertaken so we can also share as part of our campaign. Thank you!

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