5 paralegals arrested in Taguig protest freed on bail

MANILA, Philippines — Five paralegals arrested during a protest in Taguig against the proposed Pax Silica have been released from detention after posting bail, according to progressive group Karapatan. Mara Peralta, Jona Yang, Kenneth Castor, RC Placido and Daya Juliano each posted bail of P60,000 before the Taguig City prosecutor’s office on Sept. 12, according to Karapatan. Peralta, Yang and Castor were arrested during the protest outside a hotel in Bonifacio Global City where the 2026 Luzon Economic Corridor Investment Forum, sponsored by the US Trade and Development Agency, was held. Placido and Juliano were apprehended after going to the Tuktukan police station in Taguig. The protesters were opposing Pax Silica, a US State Department initiative focused on artificial intelligence and supply chain security. Meanwhile, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan president Renato Reyes Jr. hit back at Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. for reminding militant groups that they are not above the law. Reyes said the reminder would be better directed at the PNP, which he accused of repeatedly operating beyond the law. He cited alleged extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration’s drug war, the dispersal of protests against mining operations as well as accusations of robbery, extortion and fake arrests involving police personnel. Reyes also accused the police of involvement in alleged kidnapping and torture, planting of evidence and filing of fabricated cases, as well as protecting illegal drug and gambling operations. Nartatez issued the reminder following the confrontation outside a hotel in Taguig on Sept. 10 that left 43 police officers and activists injured. He said militant groups must exercise their right to protest within the bounds of the law. This incident underscores the complex relationship between law enforcement and citizens' right to protest in the Philippines. The Pax Silica initiative, aimed at enhancing technological cooperation and economic ties between the US and the Philippines, has drawn concerns from some domestic groups regarding its potential implications and transparency. The Philippine government faces the challenge of addressing these concerns while balancing economic growth and national security.