The Ferdinand Marcos Jr. government is retaliating against anti-corruption protesters, punishing them with criminal charges in a bid to avert more anti-corruption protests.
Reeling from the raging flood control scandal that saw the president’s approval ratings dip to new lows, the government filed charges against activists, campus journalists and ordinary citizens who attended rallies last September 21.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) president Renato Reyes Jr. is the latest in the string of protesters charged by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Reyes was informed by the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers on Thursday, January 15, that the DOJ had issued a subpoena against him for sedition, inciting to sedition, and violations of the Cybercrime Law charges.
The charges were filed by Lt. Col. Jonathan A. Estrada of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“I was directed to appear before the Assistant State Prosecutor on January 15. I have now been added to the long list of individuals facing false charges stemming from the incidents in Mendiola on September 21, 2025,” Reyes announced.
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Jacob Baluyot, National Chairperson of Alyansa ng Kabataang Mamamahayag – Polytechnic University of the Philippines and Associate Editor of student paper The Catalyst – was also served a subpoena by the DOJ last Wednesday.
Like Reyes, Baluyot is also being charged with sedition and inciting to sedition.
Baluyot was previously charged for indirect contempt by the Philippine National Police last November 26.
Despite identifying himself to arresting officers as a campus journalist covering the protests, Baluyot was among the more than 200 arrested in Mendiola in the biggest anti-corruption rally against Marcos.
Chilling effect
Reyes said the allegations against him are patently false, and the claims of sedition are entirely manufactured.
“[I]t is well-documented that I was injured after the Bayan protest in Mendiola had already concluded and when the commotion had begun. I was immediately transported to a hospital in Quezon City, where I received four stitches,” he added.
Reyes said that what is of greater concern is the chilling effect the PNP intends to impose on the broader anti-corruption movement.
He further said: “The PNP and the Marcos regime are sending a warning to dissenters: they will be prosecuted for their public statements or social media posts.”
He added that the underlying message of the charges is clear: criticism of the regime will be met with legal harassment.
“This fascist attack seeks to discourage public participation in the movement to hold corrupt officials and a corrupt system accountable,” Reyes said.
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Kabataan Rep. Atty. Renee Co meanwhile condemned the string of charges against Baluyot, pointing out that the Marcos is prioritizing its persecution of anti-corruption advocates over corrupt officials.
“Priority talaga ni Marcos ang damage control kaysa hustisya. Ang pondo ng bayan, kung di man ninanakaw ay nilulustay dito sa mga gawa-gawang kaso at atake sa kabataan,” Co said.
“Takot na takot si Marcos Jr. sa student journalists dahil banta sila sa cover up operations nila sa flood control scandal,” the Makabayan lawmaker added. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
