Public Interest Law Center - Philippines

25/02/2026

STATEMENT

Forty years ago, millions of Filipinos rose in collective defiance along EDSA and toppled the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. But EDSA did not emerge in isolation. It was the culmination of years of resistance—not only in Metro Manila, but in campuses, factories, fields, and communities across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Student mobilizations, workers’ strikes, church-led protests, underground organizing, and countless acts of courage in different parts of the country paved the way for that historic moment.

EDSA was a victory of collective action. It restored democratic institutions and reclaimed fundamental freedoms. Yet political change did not automatically dismantle the structures that enabled abuse and poverty. Subservience to foreign powers, enduring feudal conditions that keep many Filipinos landless and impoverished, and rampant corruption continue to distort governance and betray the public trust.

As we commemorate this historic triumph, we are reminded that democracy is not a one-time event but an ongoing struggle. The spirit of People Power lives wherever citizens organize, resist injustice, and demand accountability. Forty years on, the struggle continues—and so must our collective resolve.

23/02/2026

LOOK: PILC Associate Atty. Mark Vincent D. Lim delivered a talk at the forum “Ikulong na ’Yan, mga Kurakot,” discussing the constitutional right to protest, the September 21 anti-corruption assemblies, and the ensuing crackdown on youth activists.

22/02/2026

PILC Associate Atty. Mark Vincent D. Lim will speak at a forum entitled “Ikulong na ’Yan, mga Kurakot” to provide legal insights on civil liberties and the protection of human rights.

15/02/2026

𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐲. 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨 𝐓. 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲.

Today, we honor the life and legacy of 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨 𝐓. 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠, founder of the Public Interest Law Center (PILC) — a steadfast defender of human rights and a true people’s lawyer.

His courage, integrity, and unwavering commitment to justice continue to inspire us. In these challenging times, we at the Public Interest Law Center (PILC) renew our commitment to the path he paved — to stand with the marginalized, to speak for the voiceless, and to uphold the rule of law with conviction and compassion.

As we remember him on his birthday, we carry forward his vision and strive each day to be the people’s lawyers our nation needs us to be.

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐒𝐢𝐫. 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧.

13/02/2026

IN THE NEWS: Youth protesters charged with sedition and inciting to sedition with the Department of Justice (DOJ) in connection with the September 21 anti-corruption rally have denied committing any crime, saying their actions were constitutionally protected.

The Public Interest Law Center (PILC) said it is assisting six young respondents charged by the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) over their alleged involvement in the September 21, 2025 assemblies.

In a statement, the respondents, through counsel, maintained that they did not commit sedition or inciting to sedition and that there is no prima facie evidence establishing a reasonable certainty of conviction to justify the filing of charges.

“While the testimonial and documentary evidence attached to the complaint appears voluminous, none of it implicates the respondents in the alleged crimes,” PILC said.

Among those charged are two student council officers from the University of the Philippines Diliman and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, a campus journalist from PUP, and a hip-hop artist.

PILC said the respondents’ public statements and actions before and during the September 21 assembly consistently called for investigation, accountability, and the enforcement of laws against those responsible for the alleged misuse of public funds, particularly in relation to flood control projects.

“These acts are far from seditious,” the group said, adding that they are protected under the Constitution’s guarantees of freedom of speech, expression, and peaceful assembly.

The PILC argued that if any prosecution is warranted, it should be directed at police officers accused of carrying out indiscriminate mass arrests and alleged torture following the rally, as well as at private contractors and government officials implicated in alleged corruption tied to flood control projects.

PILC said filing sedition charges against youth protesters poses a serious threat to democratic space and civic participation.

“Critical expression and collective action against corruption are not crimes,” the group said. #

PILC seeks the dismissal of sedition charges against youth leaders from the Sept 21 anti-corruption rally, citing a lack of evidence and constitutional protection.

04/02/2026

PRESS RELEASE
04 February 2026

Public Interest Law Center assists six (6) youth facing sedition charges after September 21 anti-corruption assembly

The Public Interest Law Center ("PILC") assisted six (6) youth who were charged by the Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group ("PNP–CIDG") with Sedition and Inciting to Sedition in connection with the anti-corruption assemblies held on 21 September 2025. Among the respondents are two (2) student council officers from the University of the Philippines Diliman ("UPD") and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines ("PUP"), a campus journalist from the latter, and a hip-hop artist.

The respondents firmly assert that they did not commit Sedition or Inciting to Sedition, and that there is no prima facie evidence establishing a reasonable certainty of conviction to justify the filing of these charges. While the testimonial and documentary evidence attached to the complaint appears voluminous, none of it implicates the respondents in the alleged crimes.

The consistent thrust of their public statements and actions, both before and during the September 21 assembly, was to call for investigation, accountability, and the enforcement of laws against those responsible for the misuse of public funds, particularly in relation to flood control projects. These acts are far from seditious and are, in fact and in law, squarely protected by the constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech, expression, and peaceful assembly.

If any prosecution is warranted in this matter, it should be directed at the police officers who carried out indiscriminate mass arrests and torture after the September 21 assembly and who are now giving perjured testimonies, as well as at the private contractors and government officials involved in the corruption of flood control projects—not at the youth who exercised their constitutional rights.

PILC reiterates that critical expression and collective action against corruption are not crimes. The filing of sedition charges against youth who exercised their constitutional rights poses a serious threat to democratic space and civic participation. PILC remains committed to defending the respondents and to upholding civil liberties and accountability in the use of public funds.

Reference:

Public Interest Law Center
[email protected]
Atty. Rachel F. Pastores (+63 927 921 9539)
Atty. Carlos A. Montemayor, Jr. (+63 906 200 0291)
Atty. Mark Vincent D. Lim (+63 969 196 5675)

04/02/2026

IN THE NEWS: Six minors and students, who are Reyes’ co-respondents, also filed counter-affidavits denying the sedition charges against them at the DOJ on Wednesday. They include a student leader from the University of the Philippines Diliman, another student council officer, and a campus journalist from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

Through their lawyers from the Public Interest Law Center, the respondents asserted that there is “no prima facie evidence establishing a reasonable certainty of conviction to justify the filing of these charges.”

“The consistent thrust of their public statements and actions, both before and during the Sept. 21 assembly, was to call for investigation, accountability, and the enforcement of laws against those responsible for the misuse of public funds, particularly in relation to flood control,” they said in a statement.

Nothing in these acts is “seditious,” they added, and they are “squarely protected by the constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech, expression, and peaceful assembly.”

Bayan Sec. Gen. Renato Reyes. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / LYN RILLON MANILA, Philippines — The camp of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) President Renato Reyes Jr. has filed a counter-affidavit with

24/12/2025

Season's greetings and sincere thanks for your continued trust and confidence. ❤️

Wishing you and your loved ones a peaceful and meaningful Christmas and may the year ahead be filled with strength and possibility.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 🎊

12/12/2025

PILC lawyers and staff visited and consulted with political prisoners, including our clients, as part of our continuing work to defend those criminalized for their political beliefs and aspirations.

As the year ends, we reaffirm our steadfast commitment to uphold their rights and demand an end to their unjust and prolonged detention.

12/12/2025

IN THE NEWS: “Hindi naiiba ang karanasan ni Edzel Santos, 20 taong gulang, gumagawa at nagbebenta ng mga pulseras upang mapunan ang pangangailangan. Kabilang si Edzel sa mahigit sa 200 katao ang marahas at iligal na dinampot at inaresto ng kapulisan sa ilalim ng Manila Police District (MPD) noong Setyembre 21 sa tinaguriang Baha sa Luneta.

Sampung araw makalipas noong Oktubre 1, nakalaya si Edzel sa tulong ng iba’t ibang abogado mula sa NUPL, Sentro para sa Tunay Repormang Agraryo (SENTRA), at Public Interest Law Center (PILC), na nagbibigay ng tulong at proteksyon sa human rights defenders. Ngunit para kay Edzel, hindi pa rin niya tiyak ang kanyang kaligtasan bunsod ng nagpapatuloy ang mga akusasyon at kaso laban sa kaniya.

Sa pag-alala ni Edzel noong mga araw na iyon, nilantad niya ang pwersahang pagdakip at pag-aresto ng mga kapulisan sa ilalim ng Manila Police District (MPD). Habang nasa kustodiya ng MPD ay naranasan niya, gayundin ng iba pang inaresto, ang iba’t ibang pamamaraan ng pandarahas at torture. Hindi rin niya malilimutan nang sakluban siya ng bag sa ulo na nagsanhi upang mahirapan itong huminga.

…

“Tinanggalan na nila ako ng karapatang pantao. Naranasan ko yung iligal na pang-aaresto, torture, at yung pilit na pagpapaamin sa hindi ko naman ginawa. Hindi ko naman alam kung anong kasalanan ko dahil pinaglalaban ko lang naman ang karaptan ko bilang tao,” aniya.”

Kabilang si Edzel Santos sa kilos-protesta noong Disyembre 10 kung saan makikita rin siyang nagtitinda ng mga pulseras. Ngunit para saan nga ba ito?

05/12/2025

IN THE NEWS: “In a previous Bulatlat story, first responder lawyers from the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), Public Interest Law Center (PILC), Karapatan, at Sentro para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo (Sentra) confirmed that there were indications of torture – bruises, fractures, head injuries, and trauma – among those arrested. Minors were even forced to hurt fellow minors.”

Due to the cases of police violence, the Amnesty International calls on the Philippine government to promptly, impartially, and effectively investigate the unlawful use of force by the Manila Police District (MPD) and all allegations of torture.