Скачать или смотреть Humanitarian Chief Slams Terror-Tagging, Says Fund Freeze Hurts Poor Communities.

Tacloban City (Oct, 13, 2025)- Jasmin “Minet” Jerusalem, Executive Director of the Leyte Center for Development Incorporated (LCDE), has spoken out strongly against what she calls an unjust attack on her organization’s decades-long effort to help poor and vulnerable communities.

The Leyte Center for Development, Inc. (LCDe), of which she is Executive Director, has been accused by state forces of violating the Anti-Terrorism Financing Law—claims that she and her supporters firmly deny.

While LCDe has been working on disaster relief, livelihood programs, and community development for over thirty years in Eastern Visayas, its bank accounts and those of Jerusalem, her staff, family members, and suppliers have been frozen under what she calls “trumped-up cases.” According to her, the measures have hampered LCDe’s operations at a time when its aid is needed most—whereas those accused of large-scale corruption seem to face far fewer consequences.

LCDe began in 1986 under the name ILAW Resource Center; by 1988 it was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as the Leyte Center for Development and Education and later shifted focus toward disaster response and sustainable community development.

It has carried out programs such as community-based disaster preparedness and mitigation, emergency response, rehabilitation (including livelihood support, seed and tool distributions, water infrastructure, housing, cooperative-store projects), and advocacy, especially in remote, impoverished barangays with little government presence.

Over its run, LCDe has worked with many local government units and international partners, and has earned multiple awards from both national and international bodies for its humanitarian and disaster risk reduction work.

The present case, which includes charges filed in 2024 and renewed following dismissal for lack of evidence, is based largely on statements from alleged “rebel returnees” that Jerusalem says she has never met.

Meanwhile, with LCDe’s accounts frozen since May 2024, many of its programs have been stalled, and hundreds of families depending on its relief, livelihood, and development work have been cut off.

The case is set for its next hearing on October 27, 2025, at the Tacloban Regional Trial Court. Despite the legal battle and frozen funds, Jasmin “Minet” Jerusalem remains steadfast in her commitment to the communities they once actively served. She appealed for their understanding, saying that this temporary setback will not stop their mission. “When everything is resolved, we will return to the communities and continue helping those in need,” Jerusalem said, expressing hope that justice and truth will eventually prevail.