A labor NGO praised a Batangas court’s acquittal today of an urban poor organizer over four charges of falsification of public documents and said that the ruling means a step closer to freedom for the accused.

The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) said that the ruling of Batangas Municipal Trial Court that Pauline Joy Banjawan, organizer of urban poor group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap or Kadamay, was not caught red-handed by the military and police personnel who arrested her, shows that the case against her is a pack of lies.

“We are glad that the court made a decision based on evidence and the country’s laws, especially those protecting human rights. Its acquittal of Pauline not only belies the fake ID charges, but all charges against her,” Atty. Arman Hernando, CTUHR legal affairs officer, Banjawan’s counsel, and coordinator of Labor Rights Defenders Network.

In her ruling, Presiding Judge Jasmin Panganiban-Rocafort said that the “accused… was not committing any crime when found” by the arresting officers, that the police officers who arrested Banjawan admit that she was not committing any crime when they saw her, and that therefore, the search carried out on Banjawan’s bag is also unlawful.

“Pauline’s acquittal is yet another proof that the police and the military manufacture evidence against labor activists as part of efforts to repress the labor movement. We hope that the country’s courts will act with the same speed, faithfulness to evidence, and consistency with the laws on the cases of political detainees from the labor movement,” Hernando added.

The charges stem from claims made by military and police personnel who arrested Banjawan on April 26, 2025 that she had in her possession three BIR TIN IDs and one PhilHealth ID that bear the names of two different people but had her ID picture on them.

“We hope that the ruling would bear upon the charges of illegal possession of firearms that were filed against Pauline and lead to her freedom sooner rather than later. The claims of the prosecution’s witnesses collapsed when subjected to simple interrogation by the defense lawyers. Pauline is a victim of human rights violations and we are looking into filing possible counter-charges,” said Hernando.

The court ruling also said that the police officers gave “conflicting claims” about the gun allegedly found in Banjawan’s possession. CTUHR has been campaigning for the release of 20 political prisoners from the labor movement, most of whom are charged with trumped-up charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.