Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Manila student and The Catalyst campus journalist Jacob Baluyot received a subpoena from the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) on October 7. State forces summoned him for his alleged involvement in the Mendiola protest and clash in Manila on September 21.
The PNP-CIDG ordered Baluyot to appear at Camp Crame in Quezon City on October 10 to undergo investigation. In the subpoena, police warned Baluyot that failure to appear could lead to charges of indirect contempt of court.
The Catalyst, the Alliance of PUP Student Journalists (AKM PUP), and the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) condemned the police harassment. “This is a threat to press freedom and the right to participate in peaceful protest,” The Catalyst stated. Baluyot is AKM-PUP chairperson.
According to AKM-PUP, Baluyot as a journalist joined the protest to report, guide, and ensure the safety of members of campus publications of PUP. “Despite this, he is now being summoned to Camp Crame,” the group said.
“The move is clearly a blatant form of repression intended to silence and intimidate young journalists and citizens who joined the said protest,” AKM-PUP declared. The group added that protesting is never a crime, and reporting the truth is even less of one.
The CEGP called the police’s use of a subpoena to pressure Baluyot a Marcosian tactic. “This is a clear attack on the campus press and the Filipino studentry,” the CEGP said.
The group stated that the move aims to restrict independent and critical reporting by campus publications, especially amid growing student discontent over exposed cases of government corruption. “The PNP must be held accountable for this crime,” CEGP said.
The organization added that this repressive police action only proves the persistent pattern of state violations against campus press freedom. In response, CEGP urged school administrators to defend their students and resist such threats.
A day before Baluyot received the subpoena from the PNP-CIDG, the police announced that they would issue subpoenas to the identified leaders and participants in the Mendiola protest. Activists, mass leaders, and other individuals arbitrarily chosen by the police for investigation are expected to receive subpoenas in the coming days.
At least 277 individuals, including more than 90 minors, were arrested and detained for several days after the violent dispersal of the Mendiola protest on September 21. Two people reportedly died in the incident, including a construction worker who was shot by police.
