Progressive artists condemn arrest of colleague during SONA protest

BAGUIO CITY — Members of the Artista ti Kordilyera para iti Wayawaya (ARKIW), an artists' collective under the Dap-ayan ti Kultura iti Kordilyera (DKK), condemned the arrest of one of its members during the SONA protest on Monday.

The group identified the arrested artist as Jose Marie Obra, also known as Juan, a Baguio City-based artist and worker whose works focus on the experiences, aspirations and rights of ordinary Filipinos.

According to the group, Juan was among more than 40 individuals arrested by police during the protest along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. They said he was transferred among Camp Caringal, the Eastern Police District headquarters and Quezon City Police Station 6.

ARKIW described the arrest as part of what it called a pattern of police harassment and human rights violations, alleging that while calls to hold corrupt officials accountable go unanswered, protesters and rights advocates are subjected to arrest and intimidation.

The organization maintained that expressing one's views and advocating for human rights are not crimes.

The group called for the immediate release of Juan and the other individuals arrested during the SONA 2026 demonstrations, and urged authorities to end what it described as the harassment and criminalization of protesters while holding accountable those responsible for alleged human rights violations.