Human rights alliance KARAPATAN welcomed the acquittal of labor organizer and political prisoner Juan Alexander “Bob” Reyes by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 97 today, October 20, 2026, on trumped-up charges of illegal possession of explosives, paving the way for his release after more than eight years of unjust imprisonment on fabricated criminal charges.
“Huling-huli ang Philippine National Police sa pagtatanim ng ebidensya. The acquittal of Bob Reyes further exposed the practice of the PNP in planting evidence to justify trumped-up charges against activists and organizers like him,” KARAPATAN secretary general Cristina Palabay said.
During the promulgation, the court found that the prosecution had failed to establish the existence of the alleged evidence against Reyes. The inventory of supposedly seized items did not include a blasting cap and a sachet allegedly containing a substance from the detonating cord, which later appeared in the information filed against him. These glaring discrepancies in the documentation, as well as the uncertainty of the arresting officers on the existence of such objects, became the basis for Reyes’ acquittal.
Reyes, convenor of Defend Job Philippines and coordinator of Sandigan ng Manggagawa sa Quezon City (SMQC), was arrested by five operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on June 2, 2018, in Barangay San Antonio, Quezon City.
Prior to his arrest, Reyes had been subjected to harassment, threats and red-tagging because of his involvement in labor organizing. He and three other unionists sought protection through a petition for writs of amparo and habeas data, but their petition was disregarded by the Court of Appeals. All four petitioners were subsequently arrested and charged with similarly fabricated offenses.
Before today’s ruling, Reyes had already been acquitted in 13 other cases, including trumped up charges of arson and murder in Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Sur, where State forces falsely implicated him in armed encounters between the New People’s Army and the military.
KARAPATAN said that Reyes’ acquittal underscores the systematic use of fabricated criminal charges, planted evidence and prolonged detention to suppress labor organizing and political dissent. “These dirty job of the PNP should stop the soonest.”
“Bob Reyes should never have spent a single day in prison. Those responsible for fabricating evidence, filing baseless charges and prolonging his unjust detention must be held accountable. His case showed how the justice system has been weaponized against workers and activists, and it is precisely the reason why Reyes must be released, and that justice be given to him,” Palabay said.
KARAPATAN called for Reyes’ immediate release and reiterated its demand for the freedom of all political prisoners who continue to suffer imprisonment on trumped-up charges.
“The acquittal of Bob Reyes is a victory for workers, political prisoners and all those who have fought for his freedom. But justice remains incomplete while those responsible for his persecution remain unaccountable and hundreds of political prisoners continue to languish in jail,” Palabay concluded.