NUPL files habeas corpus for San Roque 21 arrested during lockdown

The National Union of People's Lawyers (NUPL) has filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus to seek the release of 21 residents of Sitio San Roque, Quezon City, who were arrested for allegedly staging a protest during a strict enhanced community quarantine.

NUPL argues that the arrested individuals, dubbed the 'San Roque 21,' were not protesting for political reasons but were driven by hunger and poverty due to the lack of government aid.

The Quezon City Police District arrested the 21 residents for alleged violations of public assembly, non-cooperation, disobedience, spreading false information, and impeding access to roads under the Bayanihan Act.

The NUPL expressed concern that the 'San Roque 21' will have to spend the weekend in jail because bail processing is suspended until Monday, April 6, 2020, due to court closures.

The lawyers' group lamented that the continued detention of the 'San Roque 21' highlights the perceived disparity in the justice system, where the poor and marginalized have fewer rights.

The NUPL believes the arrested residents were not rioting or challenging authorities but were victims of desperation and fake news.