Trumped-up charges from 2017 violent police dispersal dismissed

“This is just one of many, but it is a reminder that we must continue resisting the criminalization of activism and standing up for the rights of the urban poor and the marginalized.”

February 6, 2025

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.

Paul Reyes is forcibly arrested during the violent dispersal of a Kadamay protest on November 22, 2017.

The Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC) Branch 40 dismissed the cases of direct assault as well as resistance and disobedience to an agent of a person in authority filed against activist Paul Reyes, a former campaign staff of Migrante.

Reyes sustained injuries when he was arrested by members of the Quezon City Police Department during the violent dispersal of urban poor group Kadamay and their supporters while they were protesting the lack of adequate housing outside the National Housing Authority (NHA) on November 22, 2017.

In dismissing the case, the Quezon City Court found that there was insufficient evidence to prove that Reyes assaulted the police officer.

“Paul Reyes’ case has shown that fabricated charges designed to stifle dissent cannot withstand scrutiny,” said Atty. Josalee Deinla, secretary general of the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL). “This is just one of many, but it is a reminder that we must continue resisting the criminalization of activism and standing up for the rights of the urban poor and the marginalized.” #

Reference:

Atty. Josalee S. Deinla
NUPL Secretary General
+639174316396

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