UCA News reported Aug. 16 that sixteen people stand accused by the country’s Justice Department of financing the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), which is branded a terrorist organization by the Philippine government. 

If found guilty, those accused — whose names have not been released — would face up to 40 years in prison and a fine of between 500,000 to 1 million Philippine pesos, or $10,000-20,000 U.S.

UCA News notes that the so-called process of “red-tagging,” or “red-baiting,” has been common in the Philippines since the 1960s.

“Red-tagging” is the “malicious” practice of labeling individuals or groups as “terrorists” or “communists” because they criticized the government, UCA News wrote.

Human rights groups have accused the Justice Department of rushing the process and not allowing the nuns to defend themselves.