MANILA — After more than five years in detention, student activist Maria Juana “Jing” dela Cruz (name pseudonymized for privacy) was finally acquitted by the Regional Trial Court Branch 256 in Quezon City on January 13, 2026, in the high-profile case that charged her with multiple counts of rebellion and terrorism related to alleged links with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).
The decision, penned by Judge Maria Luisa B. Aquino, found that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that dela Cruz committed the crimes charged. The court noted serious procedural lapses, including questionable evidence (e.g., affidavits from recanted witnesses) and violations of her constitutional rights during arrest and detention.
Timeline of the Case
- October 2020 — dela Cruz, then 22 and a student leader at the University of the Philippines, was arrested in a raid in Quezon City.
- Charges — Rebellion (multiple counts) and violation of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 2020, allegedly for being a member of the CPP-NPA and participating in armed activities.
- Detention — Held without bail for over five years in various facilities, including Camp Bagong Diwa.
- Key Defense Arguments — Illegal arrest, fabricated evidence, political persecution, and violation of due process.
- January 13, 2026 — Full acquittal on all counts; dela Cruz ordered released immediately.
Upon release, dela Cruz, visibly emotional but composed, spoke briefly to media outside the courtroom:
“I am grateful to God, to my family, to my lawyers, and to all who fought for my freedom. This is not just my victory — it is a victory for every political prisoner and every Filipino who believes in justice. I will continue to fight for human rights and the rights of the youth.”
Human rights groups, including Karapatan, Amnesty International Philippines, and the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), hailed the decision as a “rare but important triumph against red-tagging and weaponization of laws.”
Karapatan Secretary-General Tinay Palabay stated:
“This acquittal exposes the pattern of fabricated charges used to silence dissent. Jing’s case is just one of hundreds. We demand justice for all remaining political detainees and an end to the misuse of anti-terror laws.”
The prosecution has 15 days to appeal the decision. The case drew international attention, with calls for dela Cruz’s release from the United Nations, European Parliament, and various human rights bodies.
Here are powerful images from the courtroom scene, dela Cruz’s release, supporters outside the Quezon City Hall of Justice, and solidarity actions during her detention.
A long-overdue moment of justice after five years — congratulations to Jing dela Cruz and her legal team.