KARAPATAN to PNP: Stop whitewashing torture, abuse of Sept. 21 detainees
KARAPATAN Public Information
PRESS RELEASE
30 September 2025
References: Maria Sol Taule, KARAPATAN Deputy Secretary General, 09452966916
KARAPATAN Public Information Desk, 0918-9790580
KARAPATAN to PNP: Stop whitewashing torture, abuse of Sept. 21 detainees
Human rights alliance KARAPATAN denounced the Philippine National Police (PNP) for its blanket denials, calling them a “whitewash” of the torture and degrading treatment suffered by those arrested during the September 21 protest actions in Manila.
“There is no other credible evidence of the abuse, torture and cruelty that the arrested individuals suffered in the hands of the PNP than their very own testimonies and that of their families and lawyers. All of these clearly point to physical and psychological torture, child abuse, forced and degrading tasks, and extortion by police personnel while in custody at the Manila Police District (MPD),” said Maria Sol Taule, KARAPATAN deputy secretary general.
“The liars here are clearly Secretary Jonvic Remulla, the MPD and PNP and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno when they insist that there is no violence employed during the September 21 protests. Too bad for them, there are many videos and photos that have surfaced online with police carrying high powered firearms and in fact, firing them which caused an innocent bystander to be killed. Videos also proved that the police randomly picked up individuals present at the protest, beat them and one they manhandled and hit his head on the ground,” added Taule.
KARAPATAN emphasized that the routinary medical examinations conducted under police control cannot ensure proper documentation of abuse, especially when victims are under duress and fear of retaliation. “If, as the PNP claims, medical examinations were conducted immediately, then we dare them to disprove the detainees’ own testimonies of maltreatment and beatings while in police custody,” Taule added.
According to Taule, the PNP’s insistence that torture was “impossible” because lawyers were present during inquest proceedings is an outright lie. “We were not with the detainees 24/7, all of the torture happen as soon as the lawyers and/or their family members left and the detainees are again in the hands of the police, suffering their brutality”, Taule lamented.
KARAPATAN also assailed the PNP’s denial of responsibility in the killing of construction worker Eric Saber during the violent dispersals.
“Instead of obfuscating the facts, authorities must be held accountable for all violations committed during the crackdown. We demand an independent and transparent fact-finding investigation to establish the truth and ensure justice for the victims,” Taule asserted.
Karapatan reiterated its call for the immediate release of all illegally arrested protesters and civilians, who have now been detained for a week.#
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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.