The Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates welcomes the release on bail of the four Greenpeace Philippines activists who were arrested in connection with their peaceful protest during the ASEAN Summit in Cebu. While their release is a positive development, the filing of charges under Batas Pambansa Blg. 880 or the Public Assembly Act of 1985 raises serious concerns on the continuing criminalization of peaceful dissent and civic action. The continued use of BP 880 to restrict and penalize peaceful assemblies has long been used to justify arbitrary arrests and harassment of activists, thereby undermining the people’s fundamental freedoms and violating human rights.

PAHRA reiterates that the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and participation are fundamental democratic rights protected under both the Philippine Constitution and international human rights standards. Peaceful protest is not a crime. Activists and human rights defenders who raise urgent concerns on climate justice, environmental protection, and corporate accountability should be heard—not arrested and charged for exercising their rights.

We call on authorities to immediately drop the charges against the activists and uphold the principle of maximum tolerance in handling public assemblies. At a time when communities continue to suffer from the worsening impacts of the climate crisis and environmental degradation, governments must create democratic spaces for people’s participation instead of silencing critical voices.

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