Philippines: leader of women's group arrested over false charge
Event- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Oct 31, 2019
- Event Description
A leader of women’s group Gabriela and her husband were arrested by elements of the Manila Police District and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group early this morning, Oct. 31.
According to a statement released by Gabriela, at around 5:00 a.m. today, ten policemen forcibly entered the house of Cora Agovida, spokesperson of Gabriela-Metro Manila and her husband Michael Tan Bartolome in Manila. The couple was instructed to drop to the floor while their two children, aged two and ten years old, and their companion were asked to go outside. A few minutes later, police claimed they recovered a.45 caliber pistol and two grenades from the residence of the couple.
The couple has been brought to the Manila Police District and charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
The search warrant against the couple was issued by Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 89, the same court that issued the search warrant for the simultaneous raids of offices of people’s organizations in Bacolod City, Oct. 31.
Their children had been under the custody of the Manila Rehabilitation Action Center last night. The couple has requested the Children’s Rehabilitation Center to look after their children. As of press time, the transfer of custody is being processed.
Gabriela condemned the arrest and called for the immediate release of Agovida and Bartolome.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Woman
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention
- Judicial Harassment
- Raid
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Family of HRD
- WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Event Location
Latitude: 14.633023153256083
Longitude: 121.02665755030642
- Event Location
- Summary for Publications
On 31 October 2019, Cora Agovida, WHRD and NGO worker, was arrested by the police over a false charge as result of her work in Manila, Philippines.