Sentro Para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo - Sentra

08/09/2026

Maligayang Kaarawan, Atty. Luchi! Padayon sa paglilingkod at pakikibaka kasama ang masang anakpawis!

29/07/2026

JOINT STATEMENT ON THE ILLEGAL INTERROGATION OF YOUTH ACTIVISTS ARRESTED DURING THE PEOPLE'S SONA

We, the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers(NUPL), Public Interest Law Center (PILC), Sentro Para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo (SENTRA), Pro-Labor Legal Assistance Center (PLACE), and NUPL–National Capital Region, condemn the unlawful, deceptive, and intimidating interrogation of youth activists arrested during the People’s SONA.

Of the 51 persons arrested, 42 were released in the early hours of July 28, 2026. Nine remain detained at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) in Camp Karingal.

On July 28, following inquest proceedings on complaints filed by the QCPD and Meralco, at least seven of the detainees were taken in groups to a conference room and questioned without their lawyers present. The interrogation was conducted by three unidentified men who introduced themselves as lawyers or paralegals affiliated with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and NUPL. When asked to present identification, they refused, claiming that their identities were confidential. They proceeded to question the detainees using a document titled “Custodial Debriefing Report,” prominently marked “SECRET” in red. NUPL categorically confirms that none of these men was its lawyer, paralegal, or authorized representative.

The interrogators sought extensive personal information from the detainees, including details about their families, present and previous addresses, education, employment, hobbies, tattoos, and social media activity. They pressed the detainees about their supposed membership in organizations such as “Vandals United,” “Skateboarders United,” and “Junkie Rebels Crew,” the identities of alleged organizational leaders, and the identities of persons shown in photographs.

The questioning continued despite the detainees’ repeated denials of any affiliation with these organizations. They were asked, “Papano ka napasali sa Vandals United?” and “Papano ka naki-cooperate sa mga grupo na ’yun?” When they denied the accusations, they were told, “Malalaman din naman namin ’yan” and “Bakit ka tatakbo kung ’di ka parte ng mga grupo na mga iyon?”

Most disturbingly, one detainee reported that an interrogator leaned toward him and whispered, “Babatukan na kita,” after he said that he could not identify the supposed leaders being referred to.

This conduct flagrantly violated Article III, Section 12 of the Constitution and Section 2 of Republic Act No. 7438. These provisions guarantee that persons arrested, detained, or placed under custodial investigation have the right to remain silent and to be assisted at all times by competent and independent counsel. These rights cannot be waived except in writing and in the presence of counsel. The reported threat, moreover, is precisely the kind of coercive conduct prohibited by Article III, Section 12(2), which expressly bars threats, intimidation, and other means that vitiate a person’s free will.

The breadth and character of the questions reveal a purpose extending far beyond the offenses alleged at the inquest. Their focus on organizational affiliations, internal structures, and the identities of other individuals points to an effort to profile activists, map their associations, and gather intelligence on organizations engaged in lawful and constitutionally protected activity.

We demand an immediate end to the custodial interrogation and political profiling of activists, and accountability for everyone who ordered, conducted, facilitated, or tolerated these acts.
The PNP must immediately identify the interrogators, disclose the authority under which they acted, and explain how persons falsely claiming affiliation with NUPL gained access to detainees inside a police facility. It must preserve and produce all relevant records of the custodial interrogation and hold everyone responsible to account.

We likewise call on the CHR to conduct an independent investigation into the entire incident—including the denial of counsel, the threats and intimidation, the identity and authority of the interrogators, and the circumstances under which they gained access to the detainees—and to determine whether they were connected with the CHR or falsely invoked its name and authority.

We are putting the PNP on notice: our clients shall not be subjected to any further questioning except in our presence and with our effective assistance as their counsel. We will pursue all available remedies against anyone who attempts otherwise. #

Media Contacts:
Atty. Katherine A. Panguban
National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers
+63 956 673 0301

Atty. Carlos Montemayor Jr.
Public Interest Law Center
+63 906 200 0291

Atty. Zoe Caballero
Sentro Para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo
+63 906 427 3981

Atty. Arman Hernando
Pro-Labor Legal Assistance Center
+63 985 939 6547

Photo from Bulatlat

18/07/2026

FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS!

Nakiisa ang Sentro para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo (SENTRA) at iba pang mga peasant organizations at advocates sa paglulunsad ng LAYA: Campaign to Free All Political Prisoners. Pagpapaigting ito ng panawagan at kampanya para sa pagpapalaya ng lahat ng bilanggong pulitikal.

Habang tumitindi ang problema sa lupa, lalo ring tumitindi ang kriminalisasyon sa mga magsasaka, peasant organizers, at advocates. Sa mga bilanggong pulitikal sa bansa, 507 ay mga magsasakang ikinulong dahil sa kanilang pakikibaka para sa lupa at tunay na repormang agraryo. Kabilang dito si Julie Ann Balora, peasant organizer ng National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) at Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA), na inaresto noong April 22, 2026 sa Negros.

Kasabay nito, nagbibigay pag-asa ang mga tagumpay sa paglaya nina Amanda Echanis, Felicidad Caparal, at Dario Tomada, na nagpapatunay na may nakakamit sa sama-samang pagkilos at walang humpay na paniningil ng hustisya.

Paigtingin natin ang kampanya para sa pagpapalaya ng mga bilanggong pulitikal! Hindi krimen ang paglaban para sa lupa at kabuhayan. Hindi krimen ang paglaban para sa mga batayang karapatan. Hindi krimen ang paglilingkod sa bayan.

Free all peasant political prisoners!
Free Julie Ann Balora!
Tunay na reporma sa lupa, ipaglaban!

12/07/2026

“Marahil yung iba sa atin ay magtatrabaho sa pamahalaan. Wag naman po sana tayong maging ahente ng sistematikong korapsyon sa gobyerno.

Marahil yung iba sa atin ay magtatrabaho sa pribadong korporasyon. Wag naman po sana tayo naging instrumento ng pagkakait ng makatarungan at nakabubuhay na sahod sa mga manggagawa.

Marahil yung iba sa atin ay mapupunta sa mga law firm. Wag naman sana tayo maging rubberstamp ng mga development aggression projects na nagpapalayas sa libu-libong pamilya at katutubo sa kanilang komunidad.

Mga iskolar ng bayan, saan man tayo mapunta sa propesyong ito, alalahanin natin na hinihintay tayo ng mga magsasakang naghahangad ng ligal na paraan upang magkatitulo sa mga lupang binubungkal.

Hinihintay tayo ng mga manggagawang kontraktwal na nagsusulong ng mga collective bargaining agreements para sa regularisasyon at nakabubuhay na sahod. Mga katutubong humaharap sa mga gawa gawang proseso sa pagkuha ng kanilang consent sa mga mining projects at mga maralitang nasunugan ng kanilang birth certificates noong sinunog ang kanilang mga komunidad bago ang mga development projects.

Lalong lalo na, hinihintay tayo ng mga mamamayang lumalaban, kumakayod, at nakikipagsapalaran sa araw-araw na buhay. Walang milyones na binubulsa pero umaasa na balng araw ay magkakaroon tayo ng maayos na kinabukasan.

Hinahamon tayo ng bayan na tumindig at ipaglaban ang karapatan ng bawat mamamayang pilipino.”

Pagbati sa mga nagsipagtapos sa UP College of Law! Makiisa sa laban ng mga magsasaka, mangingisda, at mamayang Pilipino. Magtungo sa kanayunan, paglingkuran ang sambayanan! Join SENTRA! https://bit.ly/joinSENTRA

04/07/2026

Yesterday, on the sixth anniversary of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 2020, we continue to amplify calls to abolish the draconian law, which has primarily targeted indigenous peoples, farmers, church workers, lawyers, human rights defenders, activists, journalists, peasant advocates, and labor union leaders as its usual victims.

Six years ago, when the ATA was first enacted, two Aetas were tagged as terrorists, becoming the first parties against whom the law was applied. Six years later, the same scenario unfolds: left-leaning progressives remain the common targets of ATA accusations.

According to Karapatan, save for former Congressman Arnold Teves Jr.’s high-profile case, 227 ordinary individuals have been charged with ATA violations, while 34 individuals were designated as “terrorists” by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) in 2025 alone.

The ATA has also been called a tool for political repression by the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) Chair Edre Olalia, who also criticized the law for failing to go after actual terrorists.

Notwithstanding the dismissal of terrorism cases against activists—including those filed against Makabayan Secretary General Nath Santiago and Anakpawis leader Jun Luna for lack of probable cause—and even with the Supreme Court striking down provisions that criminalize advocacy, protest, and dissent for being overbroad and vague, the ATC has consistently weaponized the ATA by using perjured witnesses to red tag activists and advocates.

Likewise, the ATA is often used in conjunction with Republic Act No. 10168, or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012, to target suspected individuals. This occurs even in the absence of a designation or identification made by the United Nations Security Council, or any other jurisdiction, classifying a person, group, or organization as a terrorist or terrorist financier.

To illustrate how the laws are weaponized against human rights defenders, peasants, and peasant advocates, victims include community journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and church lay worker Marielle Domequil who were unjustly convicted of terrorism financing. Despite a pending appeal, they remained detained for six years following their arrest in February 2020.

The most recent victim is a young sugar workers organizer Julie Anne Balora, who was likewise arrested and charged with terrorism and illegal possession of fi****ms in April 2026.

The fact that this administration presents the growing list of Anti-Terror Law victims as an achievement is telling of how it views dissent and people’s right to organize.

As we mark this anniversary, we continuously call for the repeal of the Anti-Terrorism Act, and the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012. It is the primary duty of the state to protect the fundamental rights of its people. It should not create laws that are meant to be weaponized to suppress dissent and the people’s right to organize and speak up

To recall, the ATA was signed into law on July 3, 2020, under then-President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained at The Hague for crimes against humanity.

29/06/2026

Imperyalismo ibagsak!
Lupa sa magsasaka, hindi sa dayuhan!

Magkita-kita tayo bukas 10:00am sa US Embassy!

Imperyalismo Ibagsak! Lupa sa Magsasaka, Hindi sa Dayuhan!

Sa ikaapat na taon ng panunungkulan ni Ferdinand Marcos Jr., lalong lumilinaw ang kanyang papel bilang pangunahing bentador ng lupain, likas-yaman, at soberanya ng Pilipinas sa imperyalismong US.

Habang lumalala ang kagutuman, krisis sa agrikultura, at kawalan ng lupa, mas todo-bukas naman ng administrasyon ang sunud-sunod na joint military exercises, pagpapalawak ng mga base militar labas pa sa mga EDCA sites na nagtatayo ng marami pang pasilidad militar ng Estados Unidos sa mga daungan, paliparan, at kampo sa buong bansa. Ang kabayaran nito ay militarisadong kanayunan, pinahihirapang kabuhayan ng mga magsasaka at mangingisda, at mga komunidad na inilalagay sa panganib ng girian ng mga imperyalistang kapangyarihan.

Kasabay nito ang walang prenong pagbubukas ng ating kalupaan sa dayuhang pamumuhunan at pagsasamantala. Sa pamamagitan ng 99-taong land lease, ng Luzon Economic Corridor, at pagpasok ng Pilipinas sa Pax Silica Initiative, at iba pang maka-imperyalistang programa, isinusuko ang libu-libong ektaryang lupang agrikultural para sa pagmimina, logistics hubs, AI at semiconductor production, at iba pang industriyang nakatali sa makinarya ng digma ng Estados Unidos. Habang inaagaw ang lupa ng magsasaka, inilalagak naman ito sa kamay ng malalaking dayuhang korporasyon.

Hindi lamang dambuhalang malaking base militar ng US ang Pilipinas. Ginagawa rin itong bodega ng likas-yaman, imbakan ng murang lakas-paggawa, at sentro ng produksyon para sa gera ng imperyalismong US. Sa ilalim ng rehimeng Marcos Jr., ang ating mga sakahan ay isinasakripisyo para sa dayuhang tubo at estratehikong interes, habang lalong inilulubog sa kahirapan ang masang magsasaka at buong sambayanan.

Sa ikaapat na anibersaryo ng kanyang panunungkulan, sama-sama nating panagutin ang rehimeng Marcos Jr. sa pagtataksil sa pambansang soberanya at sa patuloy na pagkakait ng lupa at kabuhayan sa mamamayang Pilipino.

Inaanyayahan ng Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas ang lahat ng magsasaka, mangingisda, kabataan, at makabayang mamamayan na lumahok sa kilos-protesta sa Hunyo 30 sa harap ng Embahada ng Estados Unidos.

Itaas natin ang ating panawagan laban sa imperyalistang panghihimasok, militarisasyon, at pangangamkam ng lupa. Ipaglaban natin ang tunay na reporma sa lupa, pambansang industriyalisasyon, pambansang soberanya patungo sa pagkamit ng lipunang tunay na nagsisilbi sa interes ng sambayanang Pilipino.

📆 Hunyo 30 2026
📍 US Embassy
🕘 10:00 AM

25/06/2026

23/06/2026

23/06/2026

MGA MAGSASAKANG PARALEGAL: BAGONG HENERASYON NG TAGAPAGTANGGOL NG KARAPATAN!

Matagumpay na nakapaglunsad ang AKMA- Alyansa ng Kabataan para sa Magbubukid at Sentro para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo (SENTRA) ng Paralegal Training sa San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.

Nilahukan ng mga magsasaka at kabataan ang nasabing paralegal training. Sa gitna ng patuloy na pangangamkam ng lupa, militarisasyon sa kanayunan, at paglabag sa karapatan ng mamamayan, pinili ng ating mga magsasaka na armasan ang kanilang sarili ng kaalaman at kamalayan.

Ang batas ay hindi dapat manatiling kasangkapan ng makapangyarihan. Ito ay dapat magsilbi sa mamamayan at maging sandata sa pagsusulong ng hustisya. Sa pagtatapos ng kursong ito, mas handa na ang ating mga magsasaka na ipagtanggol ang kanilang lupa, kabuhayan, at karapatan.

Ang edukasyong legal para sa mamamayan ay mahalagang bahagi ng pakikibaka para sa tunay na reporma sa lupa at panlipunang pagbabago.
Mula sa pag-aaral tungo sa pagkilos! Mula sa kaalaman tungo sa paglaban!

Tuloy ang laban para sa tunay na reporma sa lupa!