Event Summary
On 28 October 2025, the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) filed charges against 97 individuals, accusing them of being “instigators and financiers” of rebellion, sedition, and inciting sedition. These charges relate to violent incidents during the anti-corruption protests on 21 September 2025 in Mendiola, Manila. Six individuals, including student leaders, a vlogger, and a former parliamentarian, confirm having received subpoenas but deny the allegations. The PNP plans to file charges against at least 40 more people in the future.
The protests were part of a national movement demanding government accountability, especially regarding the Trillion Peso flood control scandal in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The protests coincided with the 53rd anniversary of the Declaration of Martial Law under Ferdinand Marcos Sr., father of sitting president Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. Violent clashes occurred, with at least 216 protesters detained, including 103 minors. The protests were marked by police brutality including use of excessive force such as gunfire, tear gas, and brute force. Despite the documentation of these events by mainstream and social media, government officials, including Secretary Jonvic Remulla, downplayed the violence, claiming the government exercised “maximum tolerance” and that no one was hurt.
The criminalization of activists, including the 97 charged individuals, is seen as part of a broader effort by the government to control public discourse by denying its accountability for violence while misdirecting public attention to criminalize dissent and activism. The controversy has also deepened ideological rifts within the activist community, with one of the largest protest organizers, 1Sambayan, distancing themselves from Makabayan (Nationalist) groups to avoid association with government opposition. The situation also contributes to the culture of “red-tagging” and political repression, particularly targeting student and youth leaders.
The government’s response to the protests and subsequent criminal charges thus highlight concerns about a deteriorating enabling environment, including the suppression of dissent, the denial of state violence, and reinforces ideological divisions within civil society