Freed Iloilo activist sparks political prisoners call

By Juliane Judilla

ILOILO CITY — Human rights organization Panay Alliance Karapatan welcomed the release of development worker and Migrante coordinator Josephine Porquia after the dismissal of an illegal possession of explosives case against her, while renewing its call for the release of political prisoners and the dismissal of what it described as “politically motivated charges” against activists.

Represented by the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, Porquia challenged the legality of her arrest and sought the dismissal of the charges.

The Iloilo City Regional Trial Court granted her motion, ruling that the arrest was illegal and declaring the explosives allegedly recovered during the operation inadmissible as evidence.

The ruling led to the dismissal of the case.

However, the rebellion charge against Porquia remains pending before the Mambusao Regional Trial Court.

Porquia was arrested April 2, 2026, in Pavia, Iloilo, by personnel of the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Army.

According to PAK, the arrest was based on a 2012 warrant for rebellion issued by the Regional Trial Court in Mambusao, Capiz, in connection with an armed encounter between government troops and the New People’s Army in Tapaz, Capiz, in August 2011.

The rights group alleged that the warrant identified only an alias and did not specifically name Porquia.

PAK also claimed that police later filed an illegal possession of explosives case against her before the Regional Trial Court in Iloilo City.

PAK condemned what it described as the military’s continued filing of “trumped-up” criminal cases against activists and human rights defenders.

The group cited previous cases involving Maria Cabales, an organizer of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers in Panay, and Elisa Lubi, former national chairperson of Karapatan, who it said also faced allegations linking them to armed encounters.

PAK criticized the use of arrest warrants that identify suspects only through aliases, saying these could be misused to target individuals.

The group said charges such as illegal possession of explosives have frequently been used against activists because they are generally non-bailable, allowing prolonged detention while cases are pending.

It also alleged that such cases are often accompanied by fabricated evidence, a claim government security agencies have consistently denied in similar cases.

PAK also cited concerns raised by international human rights advocates regarding the practice of “red-tagging,” or linking activists, critics, and civil society groups to communist rebels.

The group referenced United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression Irene Khan, who previously described red-tagging as a serious threat to civil society and said there was evidence that security forces had engaged in the practice.

Khan, after a 2024 visit to the Philippines, urged the government to address red-tagging and related threats against activists, journalists, and civil society groups.

The Commission on Human Rights also reiterated in 2026 its call to end red-tagging and protect human rights defenders.

Porquia is the widow of activist and environmental advocate Jory Porquia, former Bayan Muna coordinator in Iloilo, who was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on April 30, 2020.

Human rights organizations have long called for accountability in Jory Porquia’s killing, while authorities have yet to announce the arrest or conviction of any suspects.

PAK called on the government to dismiss the remaining case against Josephine Porquia, investigate the killing of Jory Porquia, and end what it described as the weaponization of the legal system against activists and civil society organizations.

The group also renewed its appeal for the release of all political prisoners.

According to Karapatan, there were about 761 political prisoners nationwide as of early 2025.

PAK said 15 political prisoners are currently detained in the Panay region.