Pro-Palestine activist Edison Yu was released on June 18 after 10 days of detention by the police in Taguig.
Yu was arrested by the Taguig Police during a rally in front of the Israel Embassy in Bonifacio Global City on June 8.
Pro-Palestine groups which rallied with Yu accused the Taguig Police of “Illegal detention, disallowing visits, and non-disclosure of custodial transfer.”
Pro-Palestine activist Edison Yu (center) after his release from police detention in Taguig on June 18 (Photo from Youth for Palestine-Makati Facebook page)
Pro-Palestine activist Edison Yu (4th from right) after his release from police detention in Taguig on June 18 (Photo from Youth for Palestine-Makati Facebook page)
The Pro-Palestine rally in front of the Israel Embassy in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig on June 8 (Photo from Pasay for Palestine Facebook page)
The Taguig Police earlier said Yu was arrested “for assaulting a diplomat security staff member and causing alarm and scandal in front of the Israel Embassy in BGC, Barangay Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.”
“This is contrary to what the Youth for Palestine-Makati alleges that Yu was illegally arrested by BGC Police for taking photos of a road blockage and police presence,” the police stated.
Yu, the Taguig Police said, was detained after shouting at and punching diplomat security officer Rodolfo Osorio Jr. in the stomach when he informed Yu that taking pictures of the Israel Embassy was prohibited.
Yu was released from Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.
“We made it happen #FreeEdisonYu!” the group Youth for Palestine Makati posted on Facebook.
“However, Edison's battle is far from over. He believes his arrest and imprisonment are politically driven. With the ongoing genocide in Israel, he asserts that now, more than ever, we must stand firm against it. We should not be intimidated by anyone attempting to hinder our call,” it said.
Anakbayan Taguig accused the Taguig Police of prolonging Yu’s detention. The group accused the Taguig Police of violently arresting Yu, delaying his right to speak to his family, and detaining him at the Taguig City Police Station for more than 12 hours without any charges filed.
The group also denounced the ban on bringing food to Yu and visitors, closing the Taguig City Hall, secretly transferring Yu to Camp Bagong Diwa and delaying the inquest proceedings of Yu.