Led by PUP campus publication The Catalyst, Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) students protested at its Sta. Mesa campus on November 27. They condemned the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) for its new case of harassment against campus journalist Jacob Baluyot.

The PNP-CIDG recently sent Baluyot a petition for indirect contempt because he refused to face the police after being subpoenaed last month. Instead of appearing, Baluyot submitted a legal explanation to the PNP-CIDG to clarify why he would not attend the summons.

Baluyot is one of four student leaders subpoenaed for a police “investigation.” According to the PNP-CIDG, the “investigation” concerns the alleged leadership and involvement of youth leaders in anti-corruption protests, particularly those held on September 21.

The Catalyst, Alyansa ng Kabataang Mamamahayag ng PUP (AKM PUP, or Alliance of Youth Journalists), and College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) earlier stood firm against the police’s issuance of a subpoena to Baluyot. “This is a threat to press freedom and participation in peaceful assemblies,” The Catalyst declared.

“How low can the police go?” CEGP national spokesperson Brell Lacerna asked regarding the Baluyot’s new case. He added that it is disappointing that the PNP-CIDG wastes public funds to harass young people who stand against corruption.

The CEGP also condemned the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group’s reported suppression of Tinig ng Plaridel, the University of the Philippines Diliman-College of Media and Communication campus publication. Police ordered the removal from X (formerly Twitter) of the paper’s news post about an anti-corruption protest.

“We will not be silenced or tamed by attempts to censor our voices as we speak out against corrupt officials’ crimes,” Lacerna stated. He said that no member of campus publications should face repression or attacks from state forces.

On November 30, the CEGP and campus journalists will join the protest Baha sa Luneta 2.0, spearheaded by Kilusang Bayan Kontra Kurakot (KBKK, or People’s Movement Against Corruption). The demonstration will be held at Luneta Park in Manila, with parallel protests nationwide. The KBKK primarily calls to: “Hold all involved accountable!”

“From the simple ‘hold the corrupt accountable’ to deeper demands for Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte to resign and for change in the rotten governance system, every legitimate clamor of the people has space and must be heard,” the KBKK declared for the protest.