Defend the youth speaking against injustice, corruption, and red-tagging
The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers-National Capital Region (NUPL-NCR) stands with youth activists and their fundamental right to free speech and expression. NUPL-NCR assisted youth leader Christian Mataverde on October 20, 2026 as he filed his counter-affidavit before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Rizal in the cyberlibel complaint brought against him by an official of the University of Rizal System (URS), Pililla Campus, for violation of Section 4(c)(4) of Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. Cyberlibel potentially carries the penalty of up to eight years in prison.
October 24, 2026
NUPL
The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers is a nationwide voluntary association of human rights lawyers in the Philippines, committed to the defense, protection, and promotion of human rights, especially of the poor and the oppressed.

NUPL-NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION CHAPTER
PRESS STATEMENT
October 23, 2026


The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers-National Capital Region (NUPL-NCR) stands with youth activists and their fundamental right to free speech and expression. NUPL-NCR assisted youth leader Christian Mataverde on October 20, 2026 as he filed his counter-affidavit before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Rizal in the cyberlibel complaint brought against him by an official of the University of Rizal System (URS), Pililla Campus, for violation of Section 4(c)(4) of Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. Cyberlibel potentially carries the penalty of up to eight years in prison.

The complaint arises from the dean’s call-out of the Facebook post of Tanay Youth Vote, a youth organization in Tanay, Rizal. The post condemned the red-tagging, harassment, and intimidation of one of its members, URS student Gelim-Al Maribojoc. The complaint faults Mataverde for sharing the said post, and for allegedly leading the organization that published it. 

We must assert that the right to free speech and expression is enjoyed by all citizens, even students and youth – and especially students and youth – who speak about politics and ways to better it. We also note that the Supreme Court has also recognized red-tagging as a threat to a person’s life, liberty, and security – a truism that the youth group’s post sought to amplify. Calling out a public officer for engaging in the said practice is an entitlement protected by the free speech guarantees of the Constitution.

NUPL-NCR stands with Christian Mataverde, with Gelim-Al Maribojoc, and with the student activists of Rizal. The complaint is without basis in fact or law. The freedoms of expression and of association belong to the young as fully as to anyone, and we will defend them in every forum where they are put on trial.

References:

Atty. Kristina Conti
NUPL-NCR secretary general
+639298207000 (on Viber, Whatsapp only)
nuplncr2007@gmail.com

Atty. Josiah David Quising
NUPL-NCR member and handling counsel
+639761426278

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