The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines stands in solidarity with freelance journalist Deo Montesclaros, whom the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group has accused before the Cagayan Provincial Prosecutor’s Office of terrorist financing.
Deo is a correspondent for Pinoy Weekly, contributes photographs to IMAGO Images and Alto Press in Germany and is a former correspondent for Northern Dispatch.
He is also the second journalist in the Philippines to be accused under anti-terrorism laws.
They have also been thrown against our colleague Frenchie Mae Cumpio, who has been detained since February 2020, over money that had been raised to fund her radio show.
Previous accusations of terrorist financing have also been thrown at a Cordillera activist for operating a sari-sari store and for allegedly giving members of the New People’s Army.
In 2020, Deo was red-tagged by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict and accused of being a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines and NPA for his work reporting on rights violations, farmers’ issues and environmental issues in Cagayan Valley.
We join our colleagues in Pinoy Weekly, Photojournalists’ Center of the Philippines, Filipino Freelance Journalists’ Guild and in the media community in condemning the accusations against Deo and in demanding their withdrawal or dismissal.
We condemn as well the continuing use of supposed anti-terrorism laws as a tool to silence journalists and the public in general.
We call on the Presidential Task Force on Media Security and its new leadership to monitor this case, ensure that Deo’s rights, safety and well-being are protected, and seek accountability over the spurious accusation against him.
