04/08/2026
On July 26 Aldrin Kitsune, a film student from Benilde and an activist from Kalayaan Kontra Korapyson (K*K), filed a formal complaint against CIDG-PNP for their continuous harassment and surveillance against him. The CIDG-PNP’s harassment began after they filed a wave of unjust “sedition” and “inciting to sedition” charges against over 100 individuals who joined September 21’s “Baha sa Luneta” rally. These individuals included journalists such as Jacob Baluyot of PUP’s The Catalyst; student-leaders such as Joaquin Buenaflor of UP Diliman; and Benilde’s own Aldrin Kitsune who documented the PNP’s use of tear gas and brutality against civilians. Despite numerous documentation, witness accounts, and the death of civilian Eric Saber by a stray bullet, the PNP vehemently denied these acts and stated that “no tear gas was used and no ammunition.” Doubling down on this, Aldrin received a second subpoena nearly 3 months later with the same charges and the added charge of “cyberlibel” for the circulation of his photos and videos of the events of September 21.
The day after Aldrin filed a formal complaint against the CIDG-PNP for their nearly year-long harassment was the SONA ng Bayan. Similar to the wave of subpoenas after September 21, which marked the start of the harassment against Aldrin, the SONA ng Bayan was kickstarted by the mass arrests of 51 protestors. These included 12 minors and at least 2 paralegals. After the release of 41 of the 51, nine protestors remained in detention. Human rights group Karapatan called against the intimidation, coercion, and psychological torture of “SONA 9” after the nine were allegedly questioned without lawyers in an attempt for the PNP to identify other protestors.
From the CIDG-PNP’s still-ongoing harassment of activists such as Aldrin Kitsune for their involvement in last year’s September 21 protests to the mass arrests of July 27’s “SONA ng Bayan,” it is increasingly clear what the PNP’s real purpose is: to weaponize arbitrary arrests and fabricated charges against those who voice out against the corrupt in power. There is a clear pattern of systematic violence against activists who choose to voice out against the current status quo where bureaucrat-capitalists reign supreme and allow US imperialists to dictate the Filipino people’s everyday lives. These attacks against activists in the city run parallel with the escalating fascism in our countrysides where violence is wielded overtly.
2026 alone has seen tragedy after tragedy beginning with the AFP’s 203rd Infantry Brigade’s bombing of Abra de Ilog, Mindoro which resulted in the death of student-activist Jerlyn Rose Doydora. The continued militarization of Mindoro eventually resulted in the illegal arrest of artist-activist and Benilde alumna Charlize “Ceeka” Garzon. These attacks on the youth only continued to escalate with the unjust deaths of 19 people in Negros, including 6 civilians: Alyssa Alano, Errol Wendel, Maureen Keil Santuyo, RJ Ledesma, Kai Sorem, and Lyle Prijoles.
These continued attacks on the youth and activism as a whole is a blatant attempt by the state to silence the nation’s cry for change under a rotten and deteriorating system. As the frontrunners for change, the need for the youth to continue to mobilize and stand against state terrorism only becomes more urgent.
Benildeans stand against systematic attacks on the youth! Join Panday Sining Optik!
