The National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), along with other lawyers’ and human rights groups, announced that starting on September 25, some of those arrested during the protest and clash at Mendiola on September 21 have been released. Police arrested and later charged at least 216 individuals, including 91 minors (the youngest only 9 years old).

According to the NUPL, only those who underwent inquest before Fiscal Lester Jay Allan Flores II on September 24 were ordered released by the City Prosecutor’s Manila Office. An inquest is an informal and summary investigation conducted by a public prosecutor to determine whether a person warrantlessly arrested should remain in custody and face formal charges in court.

The group explained that the decision emphasized that the detention of the arrested individuals since September 21 violated Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code, which prohibits warrantless detention for more than 36 hours. Assisting the NUPL in processing the detainees’ papers are the groups Public Interest Law Center (PILC), Sentro para sa Tunay na Repromang Agraryo (Center for Genuine Agrarian Reform or SENTRA), Pro Labor Assistance Center (PLACE), and paralegals from Karapatan.

The lawyers’ groups had earlier filed before the Office of the City Prosecutor a motion for the immediate dismissal of the complaints and the release of those arrested on the basis that they are being illegally detained.

“While this is welcome news for some of the arrested individuals and their families, including those assisted by NUPL, the majority remain unjustly behind bars,” the NUPL said. The group stated that more than 100 individuals remain detained while waiting for the Office of the City Prosecutor’s resolution.

Since September 25, minors who were picked up and arrested by the police have also been gradually released from detention. Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso presented some of them publicly and to the media, which lawyers’ and human rights groups described as a violation of children’s rights and due process.

Meanwhile, the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman University Student Council reported that on September 25, UP Diliman student Mattheo Wovi Villanueva, one of those arrested at Mendiola, obtained temporary release through bail. Villanueva faces four separate charges, including violation of Batas Pambansa 880, illegal assembly, serious disobedience, and tumults and other disturbances.

Investigations and interviews by the NUPL and Karapatan with the victims and their relatives reveal clear evidence of violence and multiple human rights violations against the arrested individuals. Many bore marks of beatings, wounds, and bruises, as well as reports of psychological and mental torture from the police.

On September 26, the families of the arrested individuals gathered with human rights and lawyers’ groups to publicly expose the abuses and demand justice. They reiterated the call for the immediate release of all those arrested on September 21 and for the dismissal of all charges filed against them.