Rights group expresses support for anti-corruption protesters slapped with sedition charges

[KARAPATAN Public Information]

PRESS RELEASE

29 January 2026

Reference: Cristina Palabay, KARAPATAN secretary general, 09173162831
KARAPATAN Public Information Desk, 09189790580

Rights group expresses support for anti-corruption protesters slapped with sedition charges

KARAPATAN joined a picket in support of anti-corruption protesters who have been slapped with a slew of trumped-up charges by the Department of Justice (DOJ) as they submitted their counter-affidavits to the DOJ today, January 29, 2026.

According to data gathered by Karapatan, at least 72 persons have been charged with sedition and inciting to sedition in connection with the Anti- Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. They are among 97 protesters targeted for further criminal prosecution by the DOJ for having joined the huge Baha sa Luneta anti-corruption rally of September 21, 2026 and posting their anti-corruption sentiments online. Most of them had been arbitrarily arrested, tortured and detained on September 21, 2025 after marching to Mendiola and are facing vandalism, tumults, arson and assault cases, among others, on top of the sedition and inciting to sedition charges.

Among those who have already received subpoenas from the DOJ is Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) president Renato Reyes Jr. At least four student leaders have also received summons to appear before the DOJ--Tiffany Faith Brillante, president of the Sentral na Konseho ng Mag-aaral of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP); Joaquin Buenaflor, chairperson of the University Student Council of the University of the Philippines Diliman; Jacob Baluyot, national chairperson of the Alyansa ng Kabataang Mamamahayag-PUP and associate editor of The Catalyst, student publication of the PUP; and Aldrin Kitsune, officer of Kalayaan Kontra Korapsyon and student leader from De La Salle University College of St. Benilde (DLS-CSB).

“Significantly,” noted KARAPATAN secretary general Cristina Palabay, “many of the targeted protesters had urged thoroughgoing systemic change to stamp out corruption, a call that goes beyond merely demanding the prosecution of corrupt elements from both the Marcos Jr. and Duterte cliques.”

“Doubling down on the persecution of anti-corruption protesters,” she added, “only reinforces our doubts on the sincerity of the government’s drive against bureaucratic corruption. We see this as a desperate attempt,” said Palabay, “to suppress the people’s indignation against corruption and prevent the wave of public outrage from breaching the gates of Malacañang, seeking justice and accountability from Marcos  Jr. and Duterte and shunning trapo-dominated elections as the means of change.”

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KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and civil liberties.  It monitors and documents cases of human rights violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training and campaign.  It was established in 1995.