The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) condemns the arrests, attempted arrests, and harassment of media workers and campus journalists covering the protests surrounding the 2026 ASEAN Summit in Manila on November 15, 2026.
In yet another series of incidents of police violence against the media, the NUJP has documented at least 22 members of the media who reported experiencing police harassment during the protests. Among them were campus journalists from UPLB Perspective, UPLB The Staple, UP Philippine Collegian, and CCC The Sentinel who were covering Lakbayan of Southern Tagalog delegates and were present when Philippine National Police (PNP) arrested approximately 300 delegates in Sucat, Muntinlupa City. A campus journalist from Philippine Collegian and a journalist from the Southern Tagalog Exposure were also arrested in the same area.
Meanwhile, at least two campus journalists from UP Tinig ng Plaridel and one journalist from Altermidya reported that police also attempted to arrest them at the Liwasang Bonifacio. We are also following up on reports from two other media workers who allegedly experienced physical violence at the hands of the police during the dispersal.
Adrian Puse of Altermidya reported that a Manila Police District (MPD) officer grabbed him from behind and forcibly restrained both his arms, despite the clear media markings on the back of his uniform and the media ID he was wearing. He was able to break free after asserting that he was a member of the media.
The NUJP calls on the police to immediately put an end to this brutality against protesters and the media workers covering their actions.
The arrests, attempted arrests, and harassment of protesters and journalists constitute violations of the people’s right to peaceful assembly and the media’s freedom to report on matters of public interest. The right to protest is a fundamental democratic right that must be respected and protected.
Equally, journalists must be allowed to exercise their duty to cover public events, document abuses, and report the stories of those who take to the streets. Police violence and intimidation have no place in the exercise of these rights.
Reference:
NUJP Media Safety Office
+639602784263
nujpsecretariat@proton.me
