Free Human Rights Day 4!
Seven (7) activists, six (6) of whom are labor organizers, were rounded up in simultaneous raids in four different locations in Metro Manila on December 10, 2020. The raids were conducted based on search warrants issued by the notorious Executive Judge Cecilyn Burgos-Villavert. All of them were charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives. The activists all assert that they were falsely charged using planted evidence.
Among the HRDay7, only four remain in jail – Romina Astudillo, Mark Ryan Cruz, Jaymie Gregorio and Joel Demate. Journalist Lady Ann Salem and trade unionist Rodrigo Esparago were both released in March 2021 after a local court ruled that the search warrant used for their arrest was invalid and instantly dismissed the cases filed against them. Meanwhile, Dennise Velasco, campaign officer of Defend Jobs Philippines, was released after 14 months in detention, as the court granted his appeal to quash the warrant.
Astudillo, Cruz, Gregorio
The arrest of Astudillo, Cruz and Gregorio all happened in Quezon City. They were sleeping at the KMU-NCR office when someone knocked on the unit’s door at 2:00 in the morning. Seeing the security guard on the peephole, they opened the door. Immediately, however, police officers in full battle gear immediately went inside their house, even as the lights were out. Astudillo was almost crushed behind the door when the police officers forcefully went inside the house.
The three were forced to lie face down on the floor. No search warrant was presented before the police entered the house. Astudillo and Gregorio were escorted outside the unit and pushed against the wall. Soon, barangay officials from South Triangle (Kagawad Paguirigan and Kagawad Casanova) arrived to serve as witnesses to the search. Cruz was then brought outside the house in handcuffs. It was only at this point did the police read the search warrant to them. Cruz was also brought along to supposedly witness the search. The police allegedly found firearms and explosives inside the three’s residence.
At around 4:00 in the morning, they were brought back to their office’s living room area, and only then did the police read the Miranda Rights to them. The three asserted to call their families and Lawyers, but the police officers said that they would have the chance to do so later. They insisted that they call their families and lawyers right away while their cellphones were still there.
At around 5:00 in the morning, they were brought inside a police vehicle and were driven to the CIDG-NCR office in Camp Crame, Quezon City. They continued to press for their access to lawyers and families, but the police did not respond to them. When they arrived at the CIDG-NCR, they were subjected to interrogation. Overall, they were incommunicado for 12 hours.
At 2:00 in the afternoon, the three were brought outside their holding cell at the CIDG Crime Lab for a medico-legal examination. The three sustained multiple scrapes and bruises from being manhandled during the initial search and from being shoved on the floor and against the wall. At 3:00 in the afternoon, they were again brought to the crime laboratory for another medico-legal examination. It was only at this time that they saw their families, the paralegal team from human rights group Karapatan and lawyers – but they were not allowed to talk to one another.
The three were charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives before the Quezon City RTC Branch 84, where the case is undergoing prosecution hearings. Astudillo is currently detained at Camp Karingal in Quezon City while Gregorio and Cruz are currently detained at Camp Bagong Diwa Annex 4, Taguig City.
Joel Demate
On December 10, 2020, at around 2:08 in the morning, police forces entered the compound in front of the Demate residence. Sixteen (16) personnel in full battle gear were stationed outside the house, accompanied by around thirty (30) operatives wearing police uniform, fatigue uniform and plainclothes.
The police tried to force their entry into the house of Demate’s daughter, on the first floor which Demate was sleeping. Demate was roused from sleep by loud knocks on the gate. He peered through the window and told his daughter to open their gate. His daughter went out and opened the front door and saw around 20 police personnel. She quickly closed the door and called on her father who was upstairs. When the two went downstairs, their front door was already opened and six police officers wearing full battle gear and holding rifles were already inside the house.
The policemen went up their stairs, while Demate and his daughter were escorted by other police officers outside the house. Demate was surrounded by police officers, was made to sit, and was handcuffed with his hands on his back, while a police officer read the search warrant against him.
The police officers inspected the ground floor and went upstairs. They allegedly found hand grenades, an M-16 armalite, 1.45 caliber pistols, fake IDs, and smart and basic phones in Demate’s possession. Demate was brought outside to a van, while his daughter was asked to ride a police mobile which followed the van.
Demate, his daughter and the arresting team arrived at the Manila Police District Headquarters along UN Avenue in Manila and Demate was brought to the office of the CIDG Manila commanding officer. Demate complained that he was not subjected to a thorough check-up, thus his medical condition and needs were not identified. He is suffering from emphysema and needs inhalers for his asthma.
On December 11, at 11:00 in the morning, a Karapatan paralegal team and Atty. Marvynn Duag were able to meet Demate along with his daughter and wife inside the CIDG-Manila office.
Demate was charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives before the Manila RTC Branch 50, where the case is undergoing prosecution hearings. He is currently detained at Camp Bagong Diwa Annex 4, Taguig City.