Various lawyers from the National Union of Peoples Lawyers (NUPL), Public Interest Law Center (PILC), Sentro para sa Tunay na Repromang Agraryo (SENTRA), and Pro Labor Assistance Center (PLACE) found grave circumstances among detained individuals during the September 21 mobilizations.
Lawyers conducted visits at the Manila Police District Headquarters and several police stations, including Police Station 3 in Sta. Cruz; Police Station 7, Abad Santos; Police Station 10, Pandacan; Police Station 11, Divisoria; Police Station 12, Delpan; Police Station 4, Sampaloc; and Police Station 13, Baseco. At least 216 individuals were arrested, including a person with disability (PWD) and 91 minors, the youngest only nine (9) years old.
The majority of those detained had no organizational affiliations, including those who are mere bystanders. According to NUPL, many of those detained consistently and categorically denied inflicting any violence or damage to property.
“Most came from poor backgrounds, and some joined the protests out of indignation over rampant corruption,” NUPL stated.
Numerous accounts confirmed that individuals were simply fleeing for safety when they were apprehended. Even a thirteen-year-old (13) child was arrested following the imposition of curfew hours issued by Manila City Mayor Francisco Moreno on the same day.
Physical abuse and torture were widespread and systematic, NUPL noted.
“One individual underwent surgery for a fractured jaw at Jose Reyes Memorial Hospital, while several others displayed clear signs of injury. Even children and minors were not spared, with several bearing bruises on their faces and bodies. At the police tent in Mendiola and the MPD facility, several detainees were forced to physically assault or restrain each other,” NUPL said.
“Detainees were provided no food by the police, except for a few light snacks like biscuits. Drinking water was scarce. Most survived only through food delivered by relatives,” the lawyers’ union added.
Cultural alliance group Sining Bugkos also condemned the arbitrary arrest of one of their member artist, Christian ‘Ichan’ Mejarito.
Mejarito, 19, was nabbed by police as he was only fleeing for safety amidst intense fear during the escalating tensions at the Mendiola riot.
When his family was finally allowed to visit him on September 22, they were also narred from giving food they bought to Mejarito. The family also found him in different clothes, wearing only shorts and no shoes, unlike the pants and rubber shoes he had on before.
Mejarito said he was transferred from G. Tuazon to United Nations Avenue, denied visiting hours, and his personal belongings were not returned, allegedly to be used as “evidence.”
Many families were still barred from access and visitation to the detained individuals under MPD custody, two days since the mass arrests. Many were also turned away and denied information on the status of their missing family members. Accordng to NUPL, reports persist of individuals who remain missing after the September 21 mobilizations.
NUPL also noted that families were pressured by police to coerce their children to admit to crimes they did not commit.
“These grave violations of the Constitution, including unlawful arrest, physical abuse, and torture, are reprehensible and unacceptable[…]Such warrantless arrests cannot be justified under any lawful exception, rendering the September 21 police operations unconstitutional.” NUPL stressed.
NUPL further emphasized that the police employed excessive force in contrary to the mandate of maximum tolerance.
“They deployed operatives in plainclothes and even enlisted civilians to inflict harm against protestors and bystanders. The brutality did not end upon arrest, as violence persisted inside detention facilities, where detainees were subjected to torture and cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment,” said NUPL.
“As human rights victims, we stand with the victims and their families. We are prepared to pursue all available remedies against the police officers and officials responsible. We will also exhaust all possible avenues to ensure full accountability for these grave abuses,” NUPL concluded.
