Karapatan-National Capital Region (NCR) condemned the repeated violence, physical assault, and abuse against detainees arrested on September 21 at the Manila Police District (MPD). The group called for an immediate independent investigation and accountability of the perpetrators of these abuses.

According to reports gathered by Karapatan-NCR, the police are subjecting the detainees to forced labor, extortion in exchange for not being harmed, and threats for confessing to crimes they did not commit. Even persons with disability (PWD) in detention suffer from police cruelty.

The group recorded police beating and covering the head of PWD Edzel Santos with a plastic bag. Meanwhile, other PWDs including Alexis Bisuyo and Alvin Karingal endured intense interrogation and mental torture. Karingal has been singled out for gaining social media support after becoming known as “fishball boy.”

Detainees had already been denied due process even before these additional recorded cases of rights violations. They were barred from receiving their relatives, from talking to their lawyers, and availing of medical attention.

“These acts clearly violate their human rights and as detainees under the protection of the law and international humanitarian standards,” Karapatan-NCR stated. The group added that the MPD is not only abusing detainees but is deliberately stripping them of dignity while in detention.

Health Action for Human Rights doctors again visited the detainees on September 28 to examine their condition. According to the group, jail conditions are aggravating the injuries caused by police violence during the protest.

The doctors examined, provided medicine and cleaned the wounds of the detainees. The medics will return in the coming days to conduct follow-up examinations.

Karapatan-NCR emphasized holds the police and MPD leadership accountable for these abuses. “The MPD and the entire Philippine National Police must be held responsible for trampling on the rights and dignity of detainees. These violations cannot be ignored and must face accountability before the people and the law,” the group added.

Karapatan-NCR and other human rights groups reiterated their called for the immediate release of all arrested during the September 21 protest in Manila. More than a week has passed, and many youth and protesters remain jailed after police arrests.

The total number of arrests reached more than 216, with over 100 still detained. They were charged with multiple cases.