Philippine Court Dismisses False Terrorism Finance Charges Against Human Rights Advocates

26-05-2026  | Roberta Moisuc | Asia Team Researcher,  Global Human Rights Defence. 

On May 15th, 2026, a court in the Philippines dismissed terrorism financing charges against 27 individuals, including members of the Community Empowerment Resource Network (CERNET), a nongovernmental organisation that works with marginalised groups to promote economic, social, and cultural rights. Among those individuals was also Nancy Estolloso, an environmental and women’s rights advocate.  

The case filed in May 2023 had accused Estolloso and 26 other individuals, including the directors and staff members of CERNET, of violating the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012. Prosecutors had filed terrorism financing charges against CERNET and the other individuals on alleged transfers of money to the New Peoples’ Army.  

In the case of CERNET’s members, charges were dropped after the court granted the organisation’s plea to dismiss the case on the grounds that the acts allegedly charged “do not constitute a crime under the law in force at the time of their commission”. An appeal for dismissal was also filed by Nancy Estolloso, on which the court ruled that the prosecution had failed to comply with the statutory requirement on the publication of the names of persons and organisations designated as terrorist groups.  

In a statement posted on social media after the ruling, the chair of CERNET’s board had said that:  

“This ruling exposes the dangers of weaponizing counterterrorism laws against legitimate humanitarian and development work. For years, the Anti-Terror Financing Law and similar measures have been used by sectors within the government’s security apparatus, led by the NTF-ELCAC, to intimidate and silence human rights advocates, NGOs, and people’s organizations working in marginalized and rural communities”. 

According to Human Rights Watch, Philippine authorities have filed multiple cases under the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012 in the past against human rights activists and civil society groups to remove the state from the “grey list” of global terrorism financing and money laundering watchdogs. Many cases had been filed based on insufficient evidence that were dismissed by the Philippine courts. These actions have led to the disruption of the legitimate and impactful work of civil society groups and organisations. More than 200 organisations had their bank accounts frozen and were left with little access to resources to conduct their activities.