Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178522323227220260727-marcos-5th-sona-protest-commonwealth-MT26.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Thousands of members of various progressive groups march along Commonwealth Avenue toward Capitol Estate 1 in Quezon City on Monday, July 27, 2026, ahead of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA). Protesters raised issues on governance, corruption, and other concerns affecting the Filipino people<em>. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em> <br/></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) on Tuesday continued to hold nine of the 51 individuals arrested during protests held alongside President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.&#x27;s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.</p><p>Among those detained at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) in Camp Karingal are two paralegals.</p><p>The 12 minors and the rest of those arrested have since been released after investigators failed to establish sufficient evidence to support the filing of appropriate criminal charges. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/28/pnp-12-minors-detained-during-sona-rally-released-1252">Twelve minors detained during SONA rally released; PNP probes twin IED incidents</a></div><p>The remaining nine detainees, aged 18 to 30, underwent inquest proceedings before the Quezon City Prosecutor&#x27;s Office for alleged violations of Presidential Decree No. 1829 (Obstruction of Justice), Articles 151 (Resistance and Disobedience to a Person in Authority) and 153 (Tumults and Other Disturbances of Public Order) of the Revised Penal Code, as well as malicious mischief.</p><p>Some also face allegations of violating Quezon City&#x27;s Anti-Vandalism Ordinance.</p><p>&quot;May nangyaring gulo tapos &#x27;yong aggression ng pulis napunta sa amin,&quot; said one of the detainees, who identified himself only as &quot;Joshua,&quot; 19, adding that he was wearing a black shirt at the time.</p><p>&quot;Nasa gilid lang po kami, nagpapahinga sabay bigla po kaming hinabol. Natakot po kami sobra, &#x27;yong panic po namin at kaba, naghalo po kaya napatakbo na lang din po kami,” he added. </p><p>&quot;Dia Gabrielle&quot; was among the paralegals arrested after repeatedly questioning authorities while assisting those who had earlier been taken into custody.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/27/over-50-arrested-during-sona-protests-for-vandalism-wearing-balaclavas-pnp-1559">More than 50 arrested during SONA protests for vandalism, wearing balaclavas: PNP</a></div><p>&quot;Nagpupumiglas ako na &#x27;Hindi niyo ako kailangang arestuhin dahil paralegal ako,&#x27; doon na nila ako pinosasan,&quot; she said.</p><p>Meanwhile, 17-year-old &quot;Yok&quot; sustained injuries during his arrest. He said he was merely a resident of the area, was not participating in the protest, and was not affiliated with any group.</p><p>He was among the minors released at around 2 a.m. Tuesday.</p><p>&quot;Bigla po nila akong binalibag eh, tapos bigla na lang akong sinakyan,&quot; he said. &quot;Gusto ko pong makasuhan &#x27;yong pulis na umaresto sa akin.&quot;</p><p>Police on Monday said officers apprehended several individuals allegedly painting protest graffiti along Commonwealth Avenue near the Meralco Diliman Substation in Barangay Matandang Balara, Quezon City, at around 11:35 a.m.</p><p>According to police, officers attempted to stop the activity, but several protesters allegedly resisted and obstructed responding personnel, resulting in a violent commotion.</p><p>Authorities eventually took 51 individuals into custody.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>CALL FOR RELEASE</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Rosabell Toledo of the National Union of Peoples&#x27; Lawyers (NUPL) argued that the delay in conducting the inquest—which she said exceeded the 12-hour and 18-hour periods prescribed for light and less grave offenses, respectively—warranted the detainees&#x27; release.</p><p>&quot;Sa inquest proceedings, we will assert that they should be immediately released,&quot; Toledo said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/27/ncrpo-probes-possible-links-between-sona-protesters-sept-21-unrest-1929">NCRPO probes possible links between SONA protesters, Sept. 21 unrest</a></div><p>She also maintained that the detainees were engaged in legitimate protest activities, including graffiti.</p><p>&quot;Most of them ay in-arrest for the simple reason na naka-black sila or they fit a certain aesthetic na tinitingnan ng mga arresting natin and wala naman talagang acts that would justify their arrest at the time that they were arrested,&quot; Toledo said.</p><p>Toledo likewise questioned the obstruction of justice complaint.</p><p>&quot;Ito usually &#x27;yong pinapataw sa mga paralegals and lawyers na nag-a-assert ng mga constitutional rights ng mga nagpo-protesta,&quot; she said. </p><p>&quot;This is one of the means para i-silence &#x27;yong mga valid protests na nangyayari. I don&#x27;t believe these are valid charges.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/e9xlTyD0_SI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iPp68oJ_avs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) on Tuesday continued to hold nine of the 51 individuals arrested during protests held alongside President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s SONA on Monday.</p>

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) on Tuesday continued to hold nine of the 51 individuals arrested during protests held alongside President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s SONA on Monday.

9 remain behind bars after SONA protest arrests, NUPL seeks release

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9 remain behind bars after SONA protest arrests, NUPL seeks release

Michael Delizo,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 28, 2026 03:31 PM PHT

Read More:

SONA

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