Investigate and hold accountable PNP, LGU on September 21 state violence
KARAPATAN Public Information
PRESS RELEASE
25 September 2025
References: Maria Sol Taule, KARAPATAN Deputy Secretary General, 09452966916
KARAPATAN Public Information Desk, 0918-9790580
Investigate and hold accountable PNP, LGU on September 21 state violence
Karapatan called on the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to conduct a full-blown investigation into false claims by DILG secretary Jonvic Remulla, Manila mayor Isko Moreno and the Manila Police Department (MPD) that the police did not fire guns, did not use teargas and that their violent dispersal operations last September 21 did not cause any deaths.
Atty. Maria Sol Taule, Karapatan deputy secretary general, said “Remulla, Moreno and the MPD are lying through their teeth because there are photographs and video footages from both private individuals and the media as well as eyewitness accounts to prove that the police used teargas and live ammunition during the dispersal, in addition to inflicting torture on apprehended protesters. Reports said that even those who did not resist when arrested were still beaten severely.”
“Contrary to their claims that no one was killed, reports say two deaths related to the violent dispersal of the September 21 protest—one by gunshot and one by stabbing,” she said.
Lawyers from NUPL have accessed the individuals who were arrested during the protest including minors and persons with disability (PWD) and most of them were tortured. A lot of them sustained bruises, black eyes, head injuries and another with a broken jaw. The minors were visibly traumatized. They narrated that they too, were beaten and were made to hurt their fellow arrested minor.
“We condemn in strongest terms, the actions of the PNP. This is clearly not maximum tolerance but maximum abuse of power and police brutality,” she said.
According to MPD, a total of 216 protesters have been confirmed arrested and detained at the MPD headquarters. “But this could be more, as some names relayed to us by searching relatives are not in the list of MPD,” said Taule.
“Apart from the grave violation of their constitutional rights, the police officers are also liable for arbitrary detention as the arrested persons were held beyond the period allowed by law. The PNP’s brutality should not go unpunished,” ended Taule.
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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.