Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Flood victims and disaster survivors led by People Surge, the National Alliance of Disaster Survivors, protest in front of the St. Gerrard Construction Company office in Pasig City on Thursday, September 4, 2025. The group demands accountability from contractors, government officials, and politicians linked to the failed P1.35-trillion flood control projects. Protesters pelted the company’s logo with mud, toppled the office gate, and vandalized the property to denounce alleged corruption and incompetence, which they say worsen flooding and displace thousands of families. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1761968837308175703978608620250904-st-gerrard-discaya-protest-MRT13.jpg-2.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Flood victims and disaster survivors led by People Surge, the National Alliance of Disaster Survivors, protest in front of the St. Gerrard Construction Company office in Pasig City on Thursday, September 4, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Pasig City prosecutors have dismissed a complaint police filed against activist Jonila Castro for attending a protest in September in front of a building owned by contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya, the National Union of People&#x27;s Lawyers said late Friday night.</p><p>NUPL president Ephraim Cortez, who announced the dismissal of the complaint on his Facebook page, added the lawyers&#x27; group disagrees that the absence of a permit required by the Public Assembly Act is justification to prevent protests.</p><p>Citing the resolution issued by the Office of the City Prosecutor, Cortez said police had failed to identify who led the protest, which saw the office of St. Gerrard Construction <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/7/wrap-anger-over-ghost-flood-control-projects-overflows-onto-the-streets-2222"><strong>pelted with mud and spray-painted with slogans.</strong></a></p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/4/protesters-hurl-mud-mark-magnanakaw-on-discaya-compound-in-pasig-1247"><strong>Protesters throw mud, write &#x27;magnanakaw&#x27; on Discaya compound in Pasig<br/></strong></a></div><p>&quot;Aside from naming Jonila as among those who participated in the protest action, the complainant failed to allege, and to provide proof, that Jonila was a leader of the protest action,&quot; Cortez said.</p><p>&quot;This is clear proof that Jonila was unjustly singled out by the [Philippine National Police], and concocted an obviously baseless complaint against her. This was designed to silence her and to send a message to those who dare to dissent,&quot; he also said.</p><p>Castro, spokesperson for environmentalist group Kalikasan, said in September that protesters had gone to the Discaya building to show how angry people are at large-scale corruption in flood-control projects.</p><p>&quot;Gusto nating ipakita doon &#x27;yung mismong galit natin sa kanila. Na habang tayo ay nilulubog sa baha at putik, sila lumulubog naman sa pera na ninakaw nila sa mamamayan,&quot; she added. </p><p>(We wanted to show the actual anger at them at how we endure flood and mud, they are swimming in money stolen from the people)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/5/pnp-peaceful-protests-recognized-violators-will-be-arrested-1039"><strong>PNP: Peaceful protests recognized, violators will be arrested</strong></a></div><p>Cortez on Friday night stressed that authorities should not use the Public Assembly Act to prohibit a legitimate exercise of freedom of expression.</p><p>&quot;Considering the &#x27;exalted place&#x27; in the hierarchy of rights accorded to freedom of expression including the right to peaceful assembly, it may be curtailed only by &#x27;clear and present danger&#x27;,&quot; he said.</p><p>He added: &quot;Filing of criminal charges against those who led and participated in a rally held without a permit, as they did to Jonila, is an undue curtailment of this right.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/28/wrap-dozens-still-in-detention-a-week-since-massive-anti-corruption-protests-2100"><strong>Dozens still in detention a week since massive anti-corruption protests</strong></a></div>

<p>"Aside from naming Jonila as among those who participated in the protest action, the complainant failed to allege, and to provide proof, that Jonila was a leader of the protest action," NUPL president Ephraim Cortez.</p>

"Aside from naming Jonila as among those who participated in the protest action, the complainant failed to allege, and to provide proof, that Jonila was a leader of the protest action," NUPL president Ephraim Cortez.

Pasig prosecutor junks police rap vs activist over Discaya compound protest

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Pasig prosecutor junks police rap vs activist over Discaya compound protest

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 01, 2025 12:16 PM PHT

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Jonila Castro

Curlee Discaya

Sarah Discaya

St. Gerrard Construction

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