The Department of Justice has issued a subpoena against Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) President Renato Reyes in connection with sedition and cybercrime charges related to the September 21 protest.
The charges were filed by Lt. Col. Jonathan Estrada of the Philippine National Police, according to documents Reyes shared on Friday.
Reyes denied the allegations, calling them “entirely fabricated” and said the charges were based solely on his attendance at the protest and his public activism.
The DOJ instructed Reyes to appear on January 15 and 26 to submit counter-affidavits and supporting documents as part of the preliminary investigation. His lawyers reportedly received the subpoena only on Thursday.
The activist said the case accuses him of encouraging defiance against law enforcers during clashes in Mendiola, but he argued he was already injured after the protest had ended.
Reyes described the charges as an attempt to intimidate government critics, warning that authorities are targeting dissenters for public statements and social media activity.
He maintained that these legal actions would not deter citizens from calling for accountability in alleged large-scale misuse of public funds.