MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a subpoena to Renato Reyes, president of the left-leaning organization Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), in connection with sedition and cybercrime charges tied to the September 21 protest. The legal action, filed by Lt. Col. Jonathan Estrada of the Philippine National Police, alleges that Reyes encouraged defiance against law enforcement during clashes in Mendiola.

Reyes, however, firmly denied the allegations, calling them “entirely fabricated” and rooted solely in his public activism. He explained that by the time the confrontation occurred, he had already sustained injuries and had left the protest site. The DOJ has set preliminary investigation dates for January 15 and 26, during which Reyes is expected to submit counter-affidavits and supporting documents.

Observers and activists view the charges as part of a broader pattern of intimidation aimed at critics of the Marcos administration. Renato Reyes and his supporters argue that legal actions like these seek to silence dissent and distract from public scrutiny of alleged corruption in government spending, particularly with the controversial 2026 national budget looming. Kilusang Mayo Uno, the labor federation, condemned the charges as “fabricated” and emblematic of a government more focused on targeting activists than addressing systemic abuse. The Reyes case raises a crucial question about the state of democracy in the Philippines: when legal mechanisms are wielded against individuals for merely exercising their right to protest, does the rule of law protect citizens—or merely shield those in power? (Larawan: pgmnofficial / Instagram)