Activist groups call for release of political prisoners on Pride Month 2026

As the country celebrates Pride Month, LGBTQIA+ organization Bahaghari and human rights group Karaptan held a protest rally Thursday in front of the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Manila City to call for the release of political prisoners.

Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said pride is both a celebration and the continuing assertion of rights, dignity, and freedom.

"The call to free all political prisoners, with detained LGBTQ+ activists Verdy Pongasi and Alexa Pacalda among them, is in solidarity with those whose fundamental rights are violated under a system that criminalizes dissent and perpetuates impunity," she said.

Palabay called for the release of queer activist and peasant organizer Wilmar "Verdy" Pongasi and peasant organizer Alex Pacalda, saying they were illegally arrested on fabricated cases of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

"This Pride Month, we stand with all those deprived of their liberty and lives for defending the rights and welfare of the people. There can be no genuine Pride while political prisoners remain behind bars and people's rights continue to be violated with impunity," she said. — VDV, GMA News