Push Admin

Multisectoral organizations picket in front of the Commission on Human Rights in Quezon City on July 11, 2024, calling for the release of the "Romblon 4." The labor advocates, who were arrested  while investigating the state of workers in open-pit mining on Sibuyan Island in 2021, are allegedly being harassed by elements of the RTF-ELCAC while in prison. The activists were charged with illegal possession of firearms and serious disobedience, which the group claims were fabricated. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Multisectoral organizations picket in front of the Commission on Human Rights in Quezon City on July 11, 2024, calling for the release of the "Romblon 4." The labor advocates, who were arrested  while investigating the state of workers in open-pit mining on Sibuyan Island in 2021, are allegedly being harassed by elements of the RTF-ELCAC while in prison. The activists were charged with illegal possession of firearms and serious disobedience, which the group claims were fabricated. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Free Romblon 4

Robert Mano

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/172067741804820240711-chr-political-romblon4-MD.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Multisectoral organizations picket in front of the Commission on Human Rights in Quezon City on July 11, 2024, calling for the release of the " Romblon="" The="" labor="" who="" were="" arrested="" while="" investigating="" the="" state="" of="" workers="" in="" open-pit="" mining="" on="" Sibuyan="" Island="" are="" allegedly="" being="" harassed="" by="" elements="" RTF-ELCAC="" prison.="" activists="" charged="" with="" illegal="" possession="" firearms="" and="" serious="" which="" group="" claims="" fabricated.="" Mark="" ABS-CBN=""/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Multisectoral organizations picket in front of the Commission on Human Rights in Quezon City on July 11, 2024, calling for the release of the &quot;Romblon 4.&quot; The labor advocates, who were arrested  while investigating the state of workers in open-pit mining on Sibuyan Island in 2021, are allegedly being harassed by elements of the RTF-ELCAC while in prison. The activists were charged with illegal possession of firearms and serious disobedience, which the group claims were fabricated. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — Activists and members of cultural organization trooped to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Thursday to demand for the release of Marlon Torres, Teresa Dioquino, Nolan Ramos, and Benny Hilamon, dubbed as the &quot;Romblon 4.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/8/sc-recognizes-danger-of-red-tagging-says-may-justify-writ-of-amparo-1127">• SC recognizes danger of &#x27;red-tagging,&#x27; says may justify writ of amparo</a></div><p>The four were arrested and detained on June 3, 2021, on charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives and serious disobedience.</p><p>According to the<span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none"> Free Romblon 4 Network,</span> the four labor advocates were supposed to conduct an investigation into the conditions of workers in the open-pit mining in Sibuyan and the impact of this mining on the environment when they were arrested in 2021.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/multimedia/photo/07/26/22/protest-march-vs-mining-in-sibuyan-island">• Protest march vs mining in Sibuyan Island</a></div><p>Despite this, the group asserts that the four were illegally arrested and charged, and the case continues to be delayed by what they describe as delaying tactics.</p><p>EMBED: <a href="https://x.com/robertmano47/status/1811218454348988430" id="isPasted">https://x.com/robertmano47/status/1811218454348988430</a></p><p>&quot;Ngayong araw ay nagsampa kami ng complaint laban sa nangyayari sa Romblon 4 na patuloy na hina-harass ng RTF-ELCAC (Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict)... Kinakampanya rin namin ang agarang paglaya ng Romblon 4 na tatlong taon ng nakapiit,&quot; said Glenn Gonzales of Tambisan sa Sining.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/02/08/23/denr-to-probe-altai-mining-over-sibuyan-violations">• DENR orders probe into Altai mining firm&#x27;s operations in Sibuyan over alleged violations</a></div><p>They also claimed that the RTF-ELCAC continues to harass the four by forcing them to admit being members of the New People&#x27;s Army.</p><p> The Free the Artists&#x27; Movement and the Free Romblon 4 Network are also calling for the immediate dismissal of what they consider as fabricated cases against the 4 activists.</p><div> </div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><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/8AFJ3ROrhnc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>The four were arrested and detained on June 3, 2021, on charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives and serious disobedience.</p>

The four were arrested and detained on June 3, 2021, on charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives and serious disobedience.

Gov't urged to release 4 labor advocates arrested in 2021

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Regions

Gov't urged to release 4 labor advocates arrested in 2021

Robert Mano,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 11, 2024 03:11 PM PHT

Read More:

CHR

protest

red tagging

Tambisan sa Sining

Romblon 4

ANC

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.