Baguio, Philippines – In a dimly lit bathroom, Windel Bolinget carefully pours water over his head, trying to keep the noise to a minimum as it hits the tiled floor.
A prominent activist leader in the mountainous Cordillera region of the northern Philippines, the 49-year-old spends his days moving between various undisclosed safe havens.
Bolinget strives to remain unseen indoors, venturing out only when absolutely necessary and taking care to avoid any noise that could attract unwanted attention.
“I stick to my daily routines with extraordinary caution,” he explained.
Even when he is with his family at home, Bolinget follows the same strict procedures.
At night, whether Bolinget is present or not, his wife and four children are alert, waking up at the slightest sound of their six dogs barking. They keep a close eye on security cameras and stand guard outside, fearing that armed individuals may be coming for him. Neighboring households do the same, aware that the man they have known for years has been labeled a “terrorist” by the Philippine government, which seeks his arrest.
“We must be vigilant, have emergency contacts ready, and be able to detect if we are being followed in public,” he emphasized.
Bolinget serves as the chairperson of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA), a coalition of Indigenous groups. Alongside three other CPA leaders – Jennifer Awingan-Taggaoa, Steve Tauli, and Sarah Abellon-Alikes – he was branded a “terrorist” by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) on July 10, 2023.
Citing “probable cause” of involvement in “organized violence,” the ATC, under executive officials, alleges that the CPA and the four individuals are linked to the country’s ongoing Communist armed insurgency.
Indigenous activist Windel Bolinget lives his life in the shadows after being designated a ‘terrorist’ by the government [Michael Beltran/Al Jazeera]
According to the Anti-Terrorism Law (ATL) of 2020, individuals identified as “terrorists” can be subject to arrest…
Original from www.aljazeera.com