Renato Reyes Jr. on Wednesday dismissed sedition and related charges filed by the Philippine National Police as fabricated and baseless, describing the complaint as “harassment” intended to intimidate protesters ahead of upcoming mass actions.

Reyes, along with 35 others, including several student leaders, was accused of sedition, inciting to sedition, and conspiracy to commit sedition in connection with unrest during a protest in Mendiola on 21 September 2025.

“Lahat ng paratang na binitiwan ng kapulisan ay gawa gawa, walang katotohanan, walang batayan, at alam naman ng publiko na hindi sa bahagi namin nagmula ang kaguluhan (All the allegations made by the police are fabricated, false, and without basis, and the public knows that the unrest did not originate from our side),” Reyes said in an ambush interview.

“We will file our counter-affidavit along with the other student leaders who are also included in the sedition charge.”

He said the timing of the charges was suspicious, noting that they were filed just days before groups are set to mobilize for the 25 February anniversary of the EDSA People Power uprising.

“Ito ay tingin namin ay harassment at pananakot lang, especially since malapit na yung Feb. 25… May ganitong mga kasong nakabinbin para takutin at i-discourage ang publiko sa paglahok sa makatarungan at makatwirang pagpoprotesta (We believe this is merely harassment and intimidation, especially since Feb. 25 is approaching… Cases like these are being kept pending to frighten and discourage the public from joining just and legitimate protests),” he added.

Reyes maintained that he did not instigate any violence during the September rally and said he was injured at the height of the commotion.

“I was in Mendiola on Sept. 21, but when the disturbance broke out, I was the first one hit and had to be brought to the ER minutes after the stone-throwing happened,” he said.

“Paano nila masasabi na ako ang nag-udyok o nag-command eh dinadala na ako sa ospital noon? (How can they say that I instigated or commanded people when I was already being taken to the hospital at that time?),” he added.

Reyes claimed authorities were targeting well-known activist leaders regardless of their actual participation in the incident.

“Pinaparatangan kami kasi kami yung kilalang leaders. Mapanganib yun kasi panakot yun sa ibang estudyante at mamamayan na huwag nang sumali sa protesta dahil baka kasuhan din sila… Hindi dapat ginagawang krimen ang paglahok sa protesta (We are being accused because we are known leaders. That’s dangerous because it serves as a warning to other students and citizens not to join protests for fear that they might also be charged. Participating in a protest should not be treated as a crime),” he said.

Reyes and his co-respondents filed their counter-affidavits on Wednesday, formally submitting the case for resolution before prosecutors. He said they are confident the complaint will be dismissed.

‘No grounds to proceed’

Human rights lawyer Kristina Conti, Reyes’ legal counsel, said the complaint lacks merit.

“There are absolutely no grounds to proceed with the sedition complaint filed by the PNP,” Conti said in a statement.

“These allegations are based on false statements by police officers and dubious social media monitoring.”

She described the charges as “a waste of government time and resources,” saying authorities should instead focus on investigating corruption issues that prompted people to protest.

“With the filing of our counter-affidavits today, the complaint has been deemed submitted for resolution. We very much expect this complaint and similar ones to be dropped for utter lack of merit,” she said.