The Warrant of Arrest issued by Bangued Regional Trial Court Branch 2 in Abra on January 24, 2023 also includes CPA Chairperson Windel Bolinget, CPA Regional Council member Steve Tauli, development worker Sarah Abellon, Apit-Tako member Lourdes Jimenez, and Ilocos Center for Research, Empowerment, and Development acting executive director Florence Kang. Awingan has been arrested by the police in Baguio City today.
The Panaghiusa Philippine Network to Uphold Indigenous Peoples' rights condemns this latest attack against Indigenous Peoples and human rights advocates. The weaponization of the law is a pretext to illegally detain progressive individuals and suppress political dissent. We urge everyone to stand with the defenders and denounce judicial harassment of indigenous leaders and advocates.
DROP THE TRUMPED-UP CHARGES AGAINST INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS!