Most of the activists named in the case are also reportedly included in the military’s “Order of Battle” and have been placed under surveillance and monitoring, as reported by their organizations and data from fact-finding missions by human rights groups.

Alfonso “Poch” Cinco IV, the activists’ legal counsel and convener of the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), said that they will brace for similar cases of unfounded and unjust crimes being filed against progressive groups and activists under the provisions of the HSA on proscription of terrorist groups and the legalization of surveillance and monitoring against suspected terrorists.

Karapatan-Central Visayas secretary-general Dennis Abarientos likens the dismissal of the case against the Cebu activists to the junking of the charges against the progressive party-list representatives known as the Batasan 6.

The court also chastised the military and the prosecutors, saying: “Before writing finis to this dissertation, it is well-nigh to remind the government prosecutors, as well as those concerned, of the sage, saying: ‘While craving for justice, it is never wise to be unjust to others.’” (Bulatlat.com)

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