To Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, 2nd Infantry Division Commanding Officer Gen. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos, PNP-CALABARZON Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao, PNP-Laguna Chief Col. Salvador Petalio II, Release the Cabuyao 11!

State terror is engulfing the Philippines.

On July 4, 2020, a day after President Rodrigo Duterte's signature is affixed on the widely-opposed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, state forces under the 2nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army (2ID) and the Cabuyao City Police Station (Cabuyao CPS) arrested 11 activists after their protest.

The 11 activists, which are leaders and members of Bayan, Karapatan, GABRIELA and PAMANTIK-KMU were manhandled, dragged and choked by elements of the 2ID, camping inside the Barangay Hall of Pulo in Cabuyao City, suffering wounds and bruises from the rough accosting. They were then brought to the Cabuyao CPS even without cases filed against them.

All the protesters are leaders and members of legitimate progressive organizations falsely tagged as "legal fronts" of the CPP-NPA-NDF by the 2ID, the AFP and the PNP, through various means and channels.

The 11 activists are one of the bravest human rights defenders and advocates in the region and the country, braving not only the COVID-19 pandemic, but the threats, lies and harassment lobbied against them.

The arrest puts into question the numerous safeguards trotted about by the Anti-Terror Act's principal authors, the military, and police, mounting further concern and criticism against the bill in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The activists were only practicing the Constitutionally-enshrined right to free speech, expression and protest, yet were arrested without charges. With the absence of charges, how is the arrest legal?

We call on the PNP-PRO4A and the 2ID, to where responsibility for the vilification and arrest of the 11 activists lie, to drop all thought of filing charges against the 11, and release them immediately.

#DefendTheDefenders #JunkTerrorLaw

Community bail fund for the 11 arrested activists!

KARAPATAN Timog Katagalugan is raising funds to post bail for the illegally arrested 11 activists in Cabuyao Laguna. All proceeds will be used to provide for humanitarian support, legal proceedings, and food and other necessities of the Cabuyao 11.

Paypal
paypal.me/katsbngn

BPI
Niezelle Mae Visaya
3189 3130

GCASH
Jean Kersten Bidiones
0966 266 1888

#FreeCabuyao11
#JunkTerrorLaw