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BAYAN’s Reyes named in another effigy-burning suit

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Reyes: ‘I was not even present at the SONA rally’

The Quezon city Police District (QCPD) filed another case against Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) connected with the burning of a political effigy at the People’s State of the Nation protests last July 24.

BAYAN president Renato Reyes Jr. said another harassment suit was filed against him and artist Max Santiago by the police dated August 24.

The police charged Santiago and three other “John Does” from BAYAN Southern Tagalog of violating the Ecological Waste Management Act (Republic Act9003) and the Clean Air Act (RA 8749) also last August.

Reyes said that the second case invoked the Public Assembly Act (Batas Pambansa 880), accusing him of supervising the burning of the effigy showing a two-faced Ferdinand Marcos Jr. who invokes unity while involved in corruption.

But Reyes said he was not event present at the rally and that his name was only hand-written on the cover page of the second complaint.

“This is clearly a harassment suit because I wasn’t even present at the SONA rally. I was on a trip abroad. I was already mid-air when the rally happened,” Reyes said.

Reyes said the “trumped-up complaint” seemed to be in retaliation for their public statements exposing the QCPD for its harassment of Max and our members from Bayan Southern Tagalog.

“When we spoke out, they filed another complaint. Fascists being fascists,” he said.

READ: Groups defend artist from QCPD’s ‘harassment suit’

Reyes said they are consulting their lawyers regarding the new suit and will likewise file complaints against complainants Police Staff Sargeant Mario Sembrano, Police Corporal Paolo Navarro and whoever ordered them to file the case.

“I challenge the QCPD to produce any picture of me at the SONA rally last July 2023,” Reyes added. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Groups defend artist from QCPD’s ‘harassment suit’

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Groups condemned the Quezon City Police Department (QCPD) for filing charges against activist artist Max Santiago for alleged violations of environmental laws during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s last State of the Nation Address.

The Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP) said the charge against Santiago and others is a “harassment suit,” adding the emissions from the burnt effigy “are nothing compared to the criminal conduct and neglect of this administration.”

The police accused Santiago, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN)’s resident artist, of violating the Ecological Waste Management Act (Republic Act9003) and the Clean Air Act (RA 8749) in connection with the burning of an effigy last July 24.

Three other “John Does” were charged along with Santiago.

In its complaint, the QCPD said the burning “greatly contributed to air pollution which grossly negates the government program in ensuring the protection of public health and the environment.”

The police added the effigy that showed a two-faced Marcos was a “deliberate disrespect to the President.”

CAP however said an effigy is an art form and not solid waste.

“It is not garbage or refuse,” CAP argued.

“It is hypocritical of the state to allege this when it cannot even address the problem of worsening traffic and its emissions, urban and industrial waste, and other government regulated practices that contribute to environmental destruction,” the group added.

CAP said the lawsuit is an attack on freedom of expression and the right of the people to redress and expression of grievance, particularly during a political event.

“Why expend public resources on this just to save face when the realities that the effigy reflects and expresses remain unaddressed?” CAP secretary general Lisa Ito said.

BAYAN meanwhile said it will contest the charges and defend Santiago.

“It should be noted that it is only under the presidency of Marcos Jr. that such a case was filed,” the group pointed out.

“Clearly this infringes on free speech. QCPD is ignorant of the law. It wants to regulate the content of the protests under the guise of enforcing an environmental law that is inapplicable in this situation,” BAYAN president Renato Reyes said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)