APCHRP Strongly Condemns the Violent and Illegal Arrest of Activists and Paralegals During SONA

The Asia Pacific Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (APCHRP) strongly condemns the violent and illegal arrest of activists and paralegals on July 27, 2026, during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of the US-Marcos regime.

While President Marcos Jr.’s address was filled with lofty rhetoric, false claims of progress, and empty promises, the reality on the streets revealed a starkly different picture. Instead of addressing the worsening conditions faced by the Filipino people, marred with poverty, landlessness, skyrocketing of prices of basic commodities, unemployment, low wages, lack of basic social services, systematic human rights violations and massive corruptions in the government, the state responded with violence against democratic and progressive organizations that were peacefully exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

The crackdown resulted in the illegal arrest of 51 individuals, including minors and paralegals. Following sustained public pressure and protest demanding their release, 49 detainees have been freed, while 9 remain in detention.

Of those arrested, seven (7) have been charged by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Manila Electric Railroad and Light Company (MERALCO) with malicious mischief for their participation in a protest that featured protest art exposing the syndicated scheme of MERALCO. Meanwhile, two (2) paralegals have been charged with obstruction of justice despite merely carrying out their duties of providing legal assistance and monitoring the protection of human rights during the demonstration.

While the US-Marcos Jr., the PNP exercised maximum tolerance to freedom of assembly and protest actions of certain religious sects in June. His government responded with a totally different approach to ordinary Filipinos exercising their right to protest and right to be heard of their legitimate demands. It exposes the state’s willingness to deploy police violence in defense of powerful private corporations while suppressing the Filipino people’s democratic rights. They also demonstrate the use of the legal system as a weapon to intimidate, harass, and criminalize activists through fabricated and politically motivated charges.

This pattern of repression reflects a government that places the interests of its imperialist master, large corporations and foreign investments above the rights, welfare, and democratic freedoms of the Filipino people.

The APCHRP calls for the immediate release of all activists who remain unlawfully detained and for the immediate dismissal of all baseless and fabricated charges filed against them. We further call for the US-Marcos regime and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to be held accountable for their violent, unlawful, and unjust arrests, as well as for their continuing suppression of the people’s rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and democratic action.

FREE ALL ILLEGALLY ARRESTED ACTIVISTS!
DROP ALL FABRICATED CHARGES!
HOLD THE US-MARCOS REGIME ACCOUNTABLE FOR ITS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS!