91 children arrested in protest is a ‘large-scale children’s rights violation’ – CRC

MANILA – The arbitrary mass arrests of 91 children is a “large-scale children’s rights violation”, according to advocates.

The data comes from the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) after they immediately responded in the Manila Police District (MPD). Karapatan’s human rights lawyer also revealed that the youngest individual arrested by the Philippine National Police in the major anti-corruption protest in Mendiola is a nine-year-old child. 

Trixie Manalo, youth spokesperson of Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns, spoke with social workers who responded to the children: majority of them are injured and require immediate medical assistance.

“We spoke with the parents waiting outside the MPD. They shared that they are not allowed to bring in the food they brought for their children. They are also not permitted to visit them,” said Manalo in a Filipino statement.

Salinlahi also reported that the majority of the children arrested were bystanders when the riot ensued in Recto last Sunday. Many were curious onlookers or bystanders, buying food or selling goods, coming off of work or simply present in their communities when police operations swept through and apprehended them. Instead of protection, these children experienced harassment and in many cases, police brutality.

The Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla said to the media on the day of the arrest that the minors will be endorsed to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). 

“While corrupt officials and abusive authorities remain unaccountable, it is ordinary citizens, especially children who face violent arrests and continued deprivation of their rights. This stark double standard must end. And in any way unacceptable to violate children’s rights in this most brutal and traumatizing manner,” Manalo added.

Thirteen lawyers under NUPL, Public Interest Law Center (PILC), Sentro para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo (SENTRA), and Pro-Labor Assistance Center (PLACE) jointly responded to the ongoing detention of individuals. 

The lawyers visited several police stations including Police Station 3 in Sta. Cruz; Police Station 7, Abad Santos; Police Station 10, Pandacan; Police Station 11, Divisoria; Police Station 12, Delpan; Police Station 4, Sampaloc; and Police Station 13, Baseco. These are among their findings:

• The vast majority of those detained had no organizational affiliations. Most came from poor backgrounds, and some joined the protests out of indignation over rampant corruption.
• Many were peaceful participants or mere bystanders. They consistently and categorically denied inflicting any violence or damage to property. Numerous accounts confirmed that individuals were simply fleeing for safety when they were apprehended. Disturbingly, even a thirteen year old child was arrested on the pretext of a curfew violation and remains in detention. 
• Physical abuse and torture were widespread and systematic. One individual underwent surgery for a fractured jaw at Jose Reyes Memorial Hospital, while several others displayed clear signs of injury. Even children and minors were not spared, with several bearing bruises on their faces and bodies. 
• At the police tent in Mendiola and the MPD facility, several detainees were forced to physically assault or restrain each other. 
• Families were pressured by police to coerce their children to admit to crimes they did not commit.
• On September 22, families waiting outside the MPD were denied visitation rights. Many were turned away and denied information as to the status of their missing family members. 
• Detainees were provided no food by the police, except for a few light snacks like biscuits. Drinking water was scarce. Most survived only through food delivered by relatives.
• Reports persist of individuals who remain missing after the September 21 mobilizations.

“It is undeniable that many of those detained were arrested without legal basis. The police targeted them solely on the basis of their appearance and presence in the vicinity, even when they were not engaged in any criminal act,” said NUPL. “Such warrantless arrests cannot be justified under any lawful exception, rendering the September 21 police operations unconstitutional.”

The lawyers emphasized that the police employed excessive force, contradicting their mandate of maximum tolerance. They added that the police deployed operatives in plainclothes and enlisted civilians to inflict harm against protestors and bystanders.

“The brutality did not end upon arrest, as violence persisted inside detention facilities, where detainees were subjected to torture and cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment,” NUPL said.

Bulatlat talked to some parents who are in front of MPD to assert access to their kin. In an interview, the relatives said that they were not allowed to enter and visit their children. They were not given access to communicate with them.

“It was hard for a parent to see their children being beaten,” said Alexander Lasic, 73-year-old father of arrested PWD youth Alexis “Chokoy” Lasic. 

Chokoy was just standing outside a jeepney parked along Ayala Boulevard corner San Marcelino Street along with a group of senior citizens after joining the protest in Luneta. However, he was among those seized, kicked, and violently arrested by the MPD police. Young Marikina Artist Collective (YMAC) said that he was not among those who threw objects at the police during the incident at Ayala bridge.

“We strongly condemn the appalling conduct of the police. Their actions constitute not only grave violations of law but also direct affronts to the most basic principles of human rights and dignity,” NUPL ended. (RVO)

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