📷: Screenshot of injured Bayan president Renato Reyes Jr.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) president Renato Reyes Jr. said the criminal charges filed against him and other anti-corruption advocates underscore a clear message from the Marcos administration: dissent will be punished through legal harassment.
Reyes confirmed Thursday, January 15, that the Department of Justice (DOJ) had subpoenaed him on charges of sedition, inciting to sedition, and violations of the Cybercrime Law. The complaint was 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 said.
He stressed that the allegations were fabricated and intended to silence critics. “It 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,” Reyes explained.
But beyond his personal case, Reyes warned of the broader implications.
“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 said.
“This fascist attack seeks to discourage public participation in the movement to hold corrupt officials and a corrupt system accountable.”
Student Journalist Targeted
Jacob Baluyot, National Chairperson of Alyansa ng Kabataang Mamamahayag – Polytechnic University of the Philippines and Associate Editor of The Catalyst, was also subpoenaed last week. Like Reyes, he faces charges of sedition and inciting to sedition.
Baluyot had earlier been charged with indirect contempt by the PNP on November 26. Despite identifying himself as a campus journalist covering the protest, he was among more than 200 individuals arrested in Mendiola during the largest anti-corruption rally against Marcos.
Lawmaker Decry Crackdown
Kabataan Party-list Rep. Atty. Renee Co condemned the charges, saying the administration is prioritizing the persecution of critics over accountability for corruption.
“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,” she added. (ZIA LUNA)
