Karapatan condemns the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Bacolod City for deliberately delaying the transmission of documents needed to process the bail of detained human rights defender and development worker Felipe Gelle, who has been in custody by the CIDG since June 25, 2025.
Gelle, who is part of the staff of Paghida-et sa Kauswagan Development Group (PDG), also heads the Human Rights Advocates in Negros (HRAN) and is a National Council member of Karapatan.
According to reports from HRAN, despite formal requests from Gelle’s lawyer, the CIDG-Bacolod has done nothing to expedite the transmission of a warrant of arrest for Gelle’s two cases issued as far back as 2024.
Contrary to an earlier report from the CIDG in Bacolod linking Gelle’s detention to a case of terrorism financing, this case against Gelle and his co-accused was dismissed last March. Gelle is currently being detained for a separate set of trumped-up charges for which he is ready to post bail.
“The CIDG’s inaction with respect to the transmission of the warrants is unduly prolonging Gelle’s unjust detention,” decried Karapatan deputy secetary general Atty. Sol Taule,” and is tantamount to harassment. It is a violation of his rights.”
Karapatan urged the CIDG to stop violating due process and do its job in securing the necessary documents to facilitate Gelle’s release on bail.