Windel Bolinget is an indigenous rights defender and the Chairperson of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA), an alliance of over 300 indigenous people’s organisations in the Cordillera region of the Philippines. The human rights defender has been leading many of CPA’s campaigns against human rights violations an he has also been at the forefront of local movements against large-scale mining projects, mega-dams and other projects that pose a threat to the environment. CPA is one of the convenors of the Save the Abra River Movement (STARM) and works closely with member-organizations in the campaign to save the Abra River from further pollution and destruction by Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company. For many years, Windel Bolinget and CPA have been reportedly targeted by the State and military forces for their active campaign against destructive projects such as Lepanto Mining, Cordillera Exploration Co. Inc., (CExCI), Chico River Pump Irrigation Project, and other development aggression projects in Indigenous territories. On 6 August 2020, a criminal case was filed at Davao del Norte, against ten individuals, including Windel Bolinget, for their alleged involvement in the murder of Garito Malibato, a member of a local indigenous peoples organisation called Karadyawan, on 21 March 2018. The murder charges brought against the defender appear to be completely fabricated. According to reports, Windel Bolinget has never been to Barangay Gupitan, Kapalong, where Garito Malibato was murdered. Following the murder, local indigenous organisations pointed to a paramilitary group as the perpetrators. Further, a relative of the victim also expressed that Malibato had received several death threats from the same paramilitary group before he was killed.

Windel Bolinget had previously been threatened and intimidated due to his work.