📷: Council for Health and Development / FB
The Council for Health and Development (CHD) has hailed with cautious optimism the ruling of Regional Trial Court Branch 74 dismissing terrorism financing charges against 27 council members and staff of the Community Empowerment Resource Network (CERNET).
The decision, issued on May 15 and released publicly on May 18, 2026, was described by CHD as more than a legal victory. “Humanitarian work and service to the poor are not crimes,” the group emphasized, framing the dismissal as a reaffirmation of civic freedoms.
For over three years, the accused — collectively known as the CERNET 27 — faced prosecution under Republic Act No. 10168, the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act. The charges, based on testimonies of alleged rebel returnees and disputed evidence, were criticized as a clear case of weaponizing counterterrorism laws. The court ruled that the acts charged did not constitute an offense, noting the absence of any legally operative designation of the New People’s Army at the time.
CHD underscored that the prosecution’s reliance on unpublished foreign designations violated due process and exposed the case’s lack of legal foundation. The organization also pointed to the involvement of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), which pursued charges even against individuals already deceased, as evidence of reckless disregard for the rule of law.
The statement further raised concern over the promotion of then-complainant PA Col. Joey A. Escanillas to Brigadier General shortly after filing the complaint, calling it a troubling sign of politicization in legal proceedings.
While celebrating the dismissal, CHD warned that the trauma endured by the accused and their families remains unresolved, and legislative threats such as the proposed “terror-grooming” bill continue to endanger civic space.
“The dismissal of the CERNET 27 case is a message to all: serving the poor is not terrorism,” CHD declared, pledging solidarity with the accused and calling for accountability among those who pursued the charges. The group expressed gratitude to defense lawyers, international supporters, and communities that stood by CERNET throughout the ordeal. # (ZIA LUNA)
