News
The intervention was read by Rev. Glofie Baluntong, from the United Methodist Church in the Philippines, a member of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines. For over two decades, she has dedicated her life to serving the church and Indigenous communities in Mindoro.
On 17 June 17 2019, Philippine National Police forces entered Baluntong’s church without a warrant, demanding the surrender of Karapatan Southern Tagalog members the church was hosting, and accused Baluntong of aiding rebels. Since then, she has endured harassment, intrusive visits, and questioning by the armed forces.
On 18 August 2021, she was charged with attempted murder by the state, citing an armed encounter that allegedly occurred on 25 March that year – a day on which she was conducting funeral rites for a departed church member. “I was also wrongfully charged with the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2021, and grave threats from state forces forced me to flee my hometown,” said Baluntong in the intervention.
She concluded by calling upon the UN to “ensure that counter-terrorism laws and practices, including efforts to combat terrorism financing, do not unjustly curtail the legitimate activities of civil society organizations, impede civic space, or hinder humanitarian endeavors.”
The constitutionality of the Philippine Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 had been contested through several petitions before the Supreme Court.
Photo gallery from the NCCP delegation at the WCC headquarters in Geneva
"Ecumenism in the Philippines means hope and resilience" (WCC feature story, August 2023)
