We are deeply concerned about the shoot to kill order against Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) Chairperson, Mr. Windel Bolinget, following a trumped-up case of murder filed against , by a police officer in a court in Tagum City, Davao Del Norte, Philippines in 2020. Bolinget and ten other individuals are accused of killing Garito Tiklonay Malibato on March 21, 2018 in Barangay Gupitan, Kapalong, Davao del Norte.

We fear for Bolinget’s life and safety, especially from extrajudicial killing under the pretext of resisting arrest or fighting back against arresting officers as this has been occurring in the country over the past few years.

Bolinget has been an environment activist and human rights defender most of his life. We believe the trumped-up case against him is meant to silence him and the CPA from asserting indigenous peoples’ rights, human rights, people’s welfare, and genuine peace and justice. This trumped-up murder case is the latest of a series of attacks against Bolinget.

We urge the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ), Commission on Human Rights (CHR), and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to:

1. Take actions to immediately drop the trumped-up murder case against Windel Bolinget.

2. Conduct an urgent, thorough and independent investigation on the attacks against Windel Bolinget and the Cordillera Peoples Alliance and hold accountable those responsible for the
attacks.

3. Provide protection and ensure the security of Windel Bolinget and his family, and leaders and members of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance who are currently subjected to intensified attacks by the military and police through red-tagging, political vilification, threats, harassment, intimidation, and extrajudicial killings.

4. Ensure access to justice for Windel Bolinget.

5. Stop the attacks against indigenous activists and human rights defenders, and uphold human rights and international humanitarian law.