Various progressive groups, led by Karapatan-National Capital Region (NCR), held a picket-protest in front of the Quezon City Hall of Justice on May 20. They called for the immediate release and the dismissal of charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives against unionists Mark Ryan Cruz, Romina Astudillo, and Jaymie Gregorio, who are part of group of arrested activists dubbed the Human Rights Day 7 (HRD7).

State forces simultaneously arrested the HRD7 on December 10, 2020 in separate locations in Metro Manila. Police searched their residences on the basis of a search warrant signed and issued by Judge Cecilyn Burgos-Villavert of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court. Cruz, Astudillo, and Gregorio were arrested in a community in Mother Ignacia, Quezon City.

According to Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-NCR, a hearing on the case of the three was scheduled for May 20, but the judge did not appear, reportedly because of a “vacation.” The hearing was rescheduled to August, three months from the original date.

The group said that this kind of harassment and repression tactic by the Marcos regime against political prisoners is nothing new. “This is yet another proof of the snail-paced justice in our country, which only favors the powerful,” according to Bayan-NCR. Hearings are often delayed and political prisoners are charged with additional cases to prolong their detention in an attempt to weaken their determination.

Bayan-NCR called on Quezon City RTC Branch 84 under Judge Luisito Cortes to side with the truth. “Dismiss all fabricated cases against political prisoners. Justice for the unionists,” the group said.

Meanwhile, they also reiterated the demand for accountability from Judge Cecilyn Burgos-Villavert, who arbitrarily issued the search warrant against the HRD7 and many other activists across the country. This resulted in the mass imprisonment of activists and, in the worst cases, the killing of activists by police under the narrative of “fighting back.”