Press Release
Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment
March 24, 2025
BULACAN – Today, the Plaridel Municipal Trial Court in Bulacan once again postponed the arraignment of environmental defenders Jhed Tamano and Jonila Castro on grave oral defamation charges, marking the third delay. The latest postponement was attributed to the judge’s illness, following previous delays due to court repairs and lack of resolution for the motions filed by the defendants to quash and transfer the case. This ongoing judicial harassment highlights the systemic challenges faced by environmental advocates in the Philippines.
The arraignment was initially scheduled to proceed, but the court’s decision to postpone it has left the defendants frustrated. “Today is yet another date for our arraignment that I’ve lost count of,” said Jonila Castro. “We arrived here in Plaridel only to be told that the arraignment was canceled. This is part of the slow justice system in the Philippines. To begin with, there should have been no case filed against us, yet here we are, being made to suffer. Time and resources of environmental organizations and human rights advocates are being wasted.
Tamano and Castro were abducted by the 70th Infantry Battalion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in September 2023 and coerced into publicly admitting they were rebel surrenders. They have filed motions to quash the case and transfer it to another court due to safety concerns, as their abductors are based in Bulacan. Additionally, they have submitted petitions for protective writs, which are currently pending review by the Supreme Court.
“This is a blatant act of retaliation. The charges are not just an attack on Jhed and Jonila but on all environmental defenders who dare protect the environment from plunder,” said Mattie Balagat of the Environmental Defenders Congress. “The AFP and NTF-ELCAC are clearly scrambling to cover up their humiliation after Jhed and Jonila courageously exposed their black-propaganda operations.”
Castro emphasized the need for justice and protection for environmental defenders: “We call for the dismissal of our case. The truth is, we are the victims. We were abducted by soldiers. This is blatant fascism where we, the victims, are being charged. We appeal not just for Jhed and myself but for all environmental defenders who are victims of state repression. Environmental defenders should be heard because what we do is not for ourselves but for the environment and the rights of the people. Environmental defenders should be protected, not attacked by the state.”
Today also marks the first anniversary of the abduction of fellow environmental defenders Eco Dangla and JOak Tiong in Pangasinan. Their case is ongoing with the Court of Appeals, where Eco is seeking justice through a Petition for Writ of Amparo.
“We will not be intimidated or silenced by any form of harassment. We will continue to fight and call for justice, not just for ourselves but for all victims of state repression. The charges against us are a blatant attempt to cover up the AFP’s and NTF-ELCAC’s black propaganda operations. We demand the immediate dismissal of these baseless charges and a permanent protection order for Eco Dangla.”
The Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment calls on all environmental and human rights defenders to stand in solidarity against these unjust charges. They urge the immediate dismissal of cases against Jhed Tamano and Jonila Castro, a permanent protection order for Eco Dangla, and full accountability for those involved in their unlawful abduction. This persecution must end, and justice must prevail for all those risking their lives to defend the environment.
For Media Inquiries:
Marco Sebastian Tueres
marcotueres@kalikasan.net
Viber +639542392975
