Indigenous rights group challenges terrorism designation at Court of Appeals

MANILA — A Baguio City-based organization advocating for indigenous peoples' rights has moved to challenge its designation as a terrorist organization, arguing that a local court's decision to uphold the tag violated fundamental legal procedures.

The Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) filed an 84-page petition for certiorari and prohibition before the Court of Appeals on Thursday, seeking to reverse the lower court's ruling that retained the group's terrorist classification. The petition argues that the designation lacked sufficient probable cause and failed to afford the organization proper due process protections.

The CPA, which has long represented the interests of indigenous communities in the Cordillera region, contends that maintaining the terrorist tag without adequate legal justification impedes its ability to operate and advocate for its members' rights. The organization's legal challenge marks an escalation in its efforts to clear its name through the appellate court system.

The case underscores ongoing tensions between law enforcement and civil society organizations operating in the Philippines, particularly those engaged in indigenous rights advocacy. The outcome of the Court of Appeals petition could have significant implications for how similar designations are reviewed and challenged in the country's judicial system.