By Joaquin Bautista 

More than a hundred protesters were arrested today, November 15 after police dispersed the contingent of progressive groups in the Southern Tagalog region who will be joining the protest next week in time for US President Donald Trumps’a arrival in the country. 

After a long stand off between the police and the protesters, the Lakbayan Southern Tagalog was dispersed by the Southern Police District at Sucat People’s Park in Muntinlupa City at past 2:00 p.m., leading to the arrest of roughly 300 individuals, including more than 10 student journalists and alternative media reporters. 

The protesters were headed to the Kampuhan protest at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila to protest against the Pax Silica initiative and the arrival of U.S. President Donald Trump for the ASEAN Summit in Pasay; however they were halted in Sucat, Muntinlupa. 

Witnesses reported that initial negotiations with the police were conducted to allow the demonstrators to proceed with the protest. 

Shortly after, police officers reportedly issued a final warning, stating, “Pasensyahan po, pinagbigyan namin kayo pero ayaw niyo sumunod,” before moving in to break up the assembly. 

Witnesses reported that the dispersal quickly escalated and turned violent as police officers began dragging away participants. 

One demonstrator recounted attempting to intervene after seeing a fellow protester being dragged by police. Alongside a T.U. and the Vice President of M.C., the witness attempted to assist the protester, only to be arrested afterwards. 

Despite repeatedly stating that they were willing to submit to a voluntary arrest, the protesters claimed they continued to be subjected to physical force. One protester recounted how after managing to stand up, they were allegedly pushed toward the nearby police station, dragged once more, and brought to the station entrance. 

Human rights group Karapatan said, “The PNP has turned a public space meant for the exercise of people’s democratic rights into a site of violence and repression. Karapatan condemns these acts of brutality and demands accountability from the police officers and commanders responsible,” 

“These disturbing scenes, recorded in full public view, expose the brutality of the police and the extent to which state forces are willing to go to suppress dissent,” said Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general in a statement. 

Palabay said the Marcos regime’s relentless crackdown on protesters exposes its desperation to appease the US government and serve its interests at the expense of the Filipino people’s fundamental rights.

Palabay said the  arrested protesters must be immediately released. She added that while in police custody, they must be guaranteed access to their legal counsel, paralegals, relatives, and representatives of their respective organizations, as well as immediate medical attention. 

“We demand that the PNP stop all forms of physical and psychological abuse against them,” Palabay said. 

In a statement, the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) confirmed that more than 10 campus and alternative media journalists were arrested, including: three from their group, nine from the UP Los Baños Perspective, three from the Southern Tagalog Exposure, and one member each from The Stape, Philippine Collegian, and CCC The Sentinel, alongside campus journalists from Parañaque and UP Baguio. 

The CEGP vehemently condemned the mass arrests and over 24 hours of harassment and intimidation, describing the operations as a deliberate crackdown on press freedom and peaceful dissent stemming from Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ‘s “overkill” police deployment. 

“Not only are those who participate in the protests being targeted, but publications that highlight the grassroot struggle of those who are affected by Pax Silica,” the CEGP stated. 

Altermidya Network also condemned the arrest saying, “The government cannot claim to uphold democratic freedoms before the international community while police forces suppress public demonstrations and interfere with journalists documenting events on the ground.” (With reports from Anne Marxze Umil) (AMU,RVO)