Metro Manila, Philippines – Authorities arrested five paralegals while 23 others were injured during a protest against an investment forum in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City on Thursday, Sept. 10.
The rallyists were against the Luzon Economic Corridor Investment Forum hosted by the country, the United States and Japan at the Grand Hyatt Hotel that gathered international investors, industry leaders, and senior government officials to accelerate commercial partnerships and mobilize private sector investment in key hubs in the island group.
Among those arrested were Kenneth Castor, chief of staff of the University of the Philippines Office of the Student Regent; UP Diliman student RC Placido; former AGHAM secretary general Jona Yan; Daya Juliano of Karapatan; and Mara Peralta, said Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), an alliance of sectoral groups.
BAYAN said the five were arrested in the performance of duty as paralegals and assisting protesters.
Protesters pushed against the LEC and the planned AI-powered Pax Silica project.
“We strongly condemn this widening crackdown on paralegals and legal workers, which signals a dangerous intensification of repression against all who oppose foreign-dominated projects like the Luzon Economic Corridor and Pax Silica,” the group said in a statement.
