Windel Bolinget voluntarily submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)

Windel Bolinget voluntarily submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) earlier today, Jan. 21, 2021 for security while proving his innocence from the fabricated case he is charged with.

We would like to emphasize that this is in no way an act of surrender nor an admission of guilt for the fabricated charge that the police filed against him. This is so he can have full access to all legal services in challenging his case, while under NBI’s protective custody.

By submitting, Bolinget maintains his innocence and honors his earlier statement of challenging his case in due time as was his intention when he learned of the warrant issued for his arrest. We challenge the state security forces to show the same integrity and adhere to the rule of law.

We have drawn lessons from the reckless acts of the Philippine

National Police (PNP) these past days that made clear their intention to cause harm to Bolinget through despicable schemes like the 100,000 peso bounty and PRO-COR Chief R’win Pagkalinawan’s ‘shoot to kill’ order, therefore, we shall remain vigilant for any underhanded tactics from the state forces. The police nor Pagkalinawan in particular, cannot delude themselves and claim any accomplishment from this when from the very beginning they didn’t have any intention to observe due processThe strong distrust in the police force arising from recent news of their abuse of power and bloody track record should rouse them from such delusional thoughts.

While in custody, we demand that Bolinget’s right as a detainee be given to him in full. The state will be responsible and accountable should any harm befall him while he is under their protection.

We laud Bolinget’s bravery and integrity in staying true to his intent of facing this fabricated murder charge in a competent court despite the open threats to his safety. We, in turn, must consolidate our voices and continue the call to drop the fabricated charge.

Let us call for justice for everyone else facing trumped-up charges!

Stop the attacks on Indigenous peoples and activists! ###