Activists to Stand Trial Over 2025 DPWH Corruption Protest in Cebu City
Several activists are set to face trial for their involvement in a September 2025 protest that questioned alleged corruption in government flood control projects. The case, which progressive group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Central Visayas has labeled as "political harassment," centers on charges filed under Batas Pambansa 880, also known as the Public Assembly Act of 1985.
Details of the Protest and Charges
In a statement issued on Monday, February 16, 2026, Bayan Central Visayas revealed that police have filed charges against individuals who participated in a rally held on September 5, 2025. The protest, organized by progressive groups, targeted the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) over alleged anomalies in flood control projects, which activists claim involved billions of pesos in public funds. The Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor has elevated the case to court, with Bayan noting that several respondents did not receive subpoenas and some were identified through photographs despite not participating in the rally. Additionally, some respondents have yet to receive copies of the prosecutor's resolution.
Accused Individuals and Protest Actions
The individuals charged include Jaime Paglinawan, chairman of Bayan Central Visayas and Alyansa sa mga Mamumuo sa Sugbo-Kilusang Mayo Uno (AMA Sugbo-KMU); Belinda Allere of Panaghugpong Kadamay Cebu; John Ruiz, chairman of Bayan Muna Central Visayas; Howell Villacrusis, secretary general of AMA Sugbo-KMU; Victor Sumampong Jr. of BMP Sanlakas; and student leader Jian Rick Pelayo. On September 5, Cebu-based progressive groups hurled tomatoes at the DPWH logo outside its Cebu City District Engineering Office in Barangay Tinago, symbolizing their outrage over what they called a "flood of corruption." The protest coincided with the scheduled 2026 budget deliberations of the DPWH at the House of Representatives, with participants condemning alleged "ghost projects" and the lavish lifestyles of some contractors. Groups such as Sanlakas Cebu, Kabataan, and student activists joined the rally.
Legal Basis and Prosecutor's Resolution
In an eight-page resolution dated November 12, the Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor ordered the filing of criminal charges against the respondents for organizing and participating in a rally without a permit. The resolution stated that the group gathered at approximately 8:30 a.m. along S. Osmeña Street to protest alleged corruption in flood control projects. Police officers reported that the assembly became disorderly, with protesters shouting "unsavory words" and throwing tomatoes and other objects at the DPWH fence, causing minor property damage and disrupting access to the government office. Authorities confirmed that no permit was secured from the mayor's office for the activity, with Capt. Jade Basingao of the Cebu City Police Office Station 3 filing the complaint.
Prosecutor's Findings and Legal Implications
Assistant City Prosecutor Lei Maurae Babatuan found sufficient evidence against the respondents, citing reasonable certainty of conviction based on police affidavits and witness statements. The resolution noted that the respondents failed to submit counter-affidavits to refute the allegations. While the Constitution protects the right to assemble, the resolution emphasized that the state has sovereign police power to regulate such actions for public safety. Under Batas Pambansa 880, organizers of assemblies held without a permit face imprisonment ranging from six months and one day to six years. The law, enacted in 1985 during the term of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., requires organizers of public assemblies to secure a permit from local government units, outlining a "no permit, no rally" policy while recognizing the constitutional right to peaceful assembly under Article 3, Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution.
