Four Greenpeace activists who were arrested during a peaceful protest outside the venue of the 48th ASEAN Summit in Lapu-Lapu City were released from police custody on Friday, May 9, 2026, after posting bail. The arrests occurred as environmental groups intensified their calls for ASEAN leaders to address the root causes of the climate crisis and plastic pollution.
Peaceful Protest Leads to Arrests
SunStar Cebu earlier reported that the activists were detained while conducting a non-violent action demanding stronger measures against fossil fuels and plastic pollution during the regional summit. According to Greenpeace Philippines, the four activists were informed that they would still face criminal charges for allegedly violating Batas Pambansa Blg. 880, or the Public Assembly Act, despite the peaceful nature of the protest.
Greenpeace Condemns Treatment
In a statement issued after their release from police custody, Greenpeace campaigner Marian Ledesma condemned what she described as a contradiction between ASEAN leaders' lofty words on sustainability and the treatment of environmental defenders. She emphasized that peaceful protest is a fundamental right and that the activists were simply exercising their democratic freedoms.
The arrests have drawn criticism from various environmental and human rights groups, who argue that the crackdown on peaceful protesters undermines the region's commitment to environmental protection and civic space. The activists remain subject to legal proceedings, with their next court hearing scheduled for a later date.
