Groups condemn arrest of 51 SONA activists: They have right to protest in any form

Justine Tabo

Progressive organizations and youth alliances criticized the apprehension of 51 demonstrators, including 13 minors and three paralegals who were swept up by police during a rally along Commonwealth Avenue ahead of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Secretary-General Mong Palatino criticized the mid-demonstration crackdown, calling it a breach of standard police protocols and an attack on public dissent.

“It sets a bad, dangerous precedent. They conducted the arrest in the middle of the protest. Even police protocols and the law prohibit it,” Palatino emphasized. 

Palatino emphasized that conducting arrests during an ongoing protest sets a dangerous precedent and directly violates both the law and standard police protocols.

“They call it vandalism, [but] our youth have every right to express protest through graffiti. The reported graffiti ‘Meralco Sindikato’ is [a] message that reflects public outrage. We demand [the] immediate release of the 51 young activists,” Palatino added.

Youth alliance Vandals United, whose members were detained alongside individuals from Hiphop United, Skaters United, and Defend the Hood alleged that officers conducted arbitrary profiling based on attire rather than actual offenses. 

Witnesses reported that police rounded up individuals along the curb simply for wearing dark clothing and face coverings.

“The police and local government have long targeted the youth, the poor, and the ordinary citizens just because they can,” Vandals United stated.

The group pointed out that similar detentions occurred during previous mass demonstrations. 

“This is only one proof that the police can only be bold and violent to the everyday Filipino,” Vandals United stressed.

Conversely, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin defended the operation, maintaining that those taken into custody committed clear infractions of the law.

“The arrests by our police officers were because those arrested committed violations of the law like vandalizing walls, wearing balaclavas, and, of course, holding a rally without the proper permit,” Aberin told reporters, adding that those arrested would go through formal inquest proceedings.

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Quezon City Police District (QCPD), 45 of the detainees were transferred to QCPD custody while six remained under investigation at the Batasan Police Station. 

Authorities cited alleged violations of Batas Pambansa 880 (Public Assembly Act), Republic Act 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act), and municipal ordinances against unpermitted assemblies and face coverings.