Children’s Group Condemns Arrests of Minors in Manila Anti-Corruption Protests

On Wednesday, September 24, the Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns expressed strong disapproval over the arrest of minors during the September 21 anti-corruption demonstrations in Manila, emphasizing that many of the detained children were mere bystanders.

In a formal statement, Salinlahi rebuked Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla for allegedly disseminating misleading information about the involvement of children in the protests held in Mendiola and Recto.

Trixie Manalo, spokesperson for Salinlahi, revealed that parents of the apprehended minors reported that their children were unlawfully detained despite only being present in the area during police operations. "The children were arbitrarily arrested during a police sweep," Manalo said.

While acknowledging that some minors may have joined the demonstrations, Salinlahi underscored children’s constitutional right to engage in socio-civic activities. Manalo stated, "If minors participated in the protest, there is nothing inherently wrong. They have the right to oppose corruption, which threatens the future of Filipino children."

This statement counters Remulla’s earlier assertions that the unrest in Mendiola was a coordinated "destabilization" effort involving organized groups. He further alleged that participants were compensated ₱3,000 each to join the protests.

As of Wednesday, a total of 216 individuals had been arrested across various protest sites including Ayala Bridge, Mendiola, and Recto, with 95 of those detained being minors.