For ASEAN protest, Greenpeace activists face illegal assembly charges, post bail

CEBU, Philippines – Four Greenpeace activists are facing charges of illegal assembly for holding a protest at the venue of the ASEAN Summit in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu last week.

The protest happened on the morning of Friday, May 8 at the Mactan Newtown premises. Members of the environmental group Greenpeace were calling on ASEAN leaders to end the plastic crisis and fossil fuel dependence before they were taken into police custody by the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office. 

Following the detention of the four activists on May 8, the environmentalists called for the charges to be dropped amid calls for climate justice. 

Karl Orit, communications campaigner for Greenpeace Southeast Asia–Philippines, confirmed to Rappler on Tuesday, May 12, that the activists have been released.

“The charge was for violation of Batas Pambansa Blg. 880 and the bail was posted May 9, 2026, [they were] released on the same day,” Orit said.

BP 880 is “The Public Assembly Act of 1985,” which requires public demonstrations to have permits when done in public spaces or if done on private property, with the permission of the property owner.

Lapu-Lapu City Police Office director, Police Colonel Agosto Daskeo, clarified in a news forum on May 12, that authorities had no time to issue a warning before apprehending the activists, as the area was declared a high security risk.  

Daskeo attributed the urgent action to security measures implemented due to the proximity, arrival, and presence of heads of state in the area at the time. 

“Naa’y instruction from our director of operations, kung panglitan naa’y mag rally malayo sa venue, we can give them time to express their sentiments,” Daskeo said. 

(There are instructions from our director of operations that if there are people rallying far from the venue, we can give them time to express their sentiments.)

According to the police director, the protest happened only around 100 to 150 meters away from the anticipated meeting of the ASEAN leaders.

Daskeo also noted that the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office and Lapu-Lapu City government publicized and warned the public ahead of time that unauthorized rallies would be strictly prohibited “to ensure the smooth, safe, orderly, and secure conduct” of the ASEAN Summit.

Irony at ASEAN

In a speech during the ASEAN Summit, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. mentioned the Philippines’ adoption of the ASEAN Declaration on the Empowerment of Youth in Climate Action and Disaster Resilience document. 

“This recognizes that young people must be part of how we prepare for climate risks and disasters, as this is the future that they will inherit,” Marcos said. 

Greenpeace Campaigner Marian Ledesma criticized the disparity between ASEAN leaders addressing resilience, sustainability, and regional cooperation, while detaining peaceful activists criticizing the root causes of the environmental crises felt by communities across Southeast Asia. 

Ledesma emphasized that activism demanding accountability is not a crime or a threat to democracy. 

“President Marcos Jr. himself has repeatedly spoken about a ‘whole-of-society’ approach in addressing crises. A truly people-centered approach means listening to those calling attention to the serious problems facing our country today, instead of responding to them with criminal charges,” Ledesma said. 

Highlighting the Summit’s location in Cebu, where the Binaliw landfill tragedy occurred, Ledesma urged the need for tangible climate action.

“Communities across Southeast Asia do not need speeches that avoid the root causes of these crises… what they need is urgent action to move away from fossil fuels, cut plastic production at source, hold corporate polluters accountable, and accelerate a just transition toward renewable energy and reuse-based systems,” Ledesma stressed. – with reports from Gwyneth Antonio/Rappler.com

Gwyneth Antonio is a Cebu-based Rappler intern and a senior anthropology student at University of San Carlos.