“Protest art falls within the purview of freedom of expression.”

MANILA – Human rights watchdog Karapatan demanded the immediate release of five cultural activists in Cavite who were arrested in Pasong Buaya, Imus City on June 28. 

According to Karapatan, the group was preparing to create protest art against the widespread land-use conversion and demolitions occurring throughout Cavite province when they were arrested on Saturday. 

Two of the arrested are Shenice Wacan, Ronaldo “Onad” Valderrama. They had not even begun when civil security elements from the local government unit accosted them and accused them of having been involved in previous protest art in the vicinity.

The security elements also threatened to shoot the activists, Karapatan said.

They were later transferred to the custody of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Barangay Malagasang, Cavite, where they were charged with malicious mischief.

Two of the arrested cultural activists, Wacan and Valderrama, are members of the Cavite Collective Alliance for Social Change (CCLASIC) which expresses protest through various artistic expressions, including poetry, dance, songs and visual arts like painting.

They both joined CCLASIC after their families became victims of violent demolitions in Bacoor. They have been active in organizing the youth and urban poor communities in the province.

Read: Hundreds left homeless in Cavite demolition

Wacan grew up in a community in Bacoor that has been repeatedly destroyed by demolition and fire due to state infrastructure projects. She was organized by CCLASIC in 2014 during the series of “hot demolition” or when communities were razed by fire due to the Bacoor “rehabilitation” project. 

Valderrama was organized during the demolition in Talaba 2, also in Cavite, in 2016 and became a voice for the youth as a former vice chairperson of Anakbayan Cavite.

Read: Fisherfolk, urban poor suspect deliberate burning down of their community

Karapatan Deputy Secretary General Maria Sol Taule explained that protest art falls within the purview of freedom of expression.

“Prior to the case of the Imus 5, it will be recalled that 14 activists were similarly charged for burning an effigy during the rallies against Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address in 2023,” Taule said in a statement. 

Various cultural and rights organizations, including Karapatan, Kabataan Partylist, Defend Southern Tagalog, Sinagbayan and Panday Sining, demanded the release of the Imus 5 and the dismissal of all charges against them. (AMU, RVO)