Manila Today
Had there been no mass campaign or support, vegan and animal rights activist Edison Yu believed his detention might have prolonged.
Yu was arrested on June 8 during a pro-Palestine protest near the Israel embassy in BGC, Taguig City to protest against the eight months of genocidal wars in Palestine and the 54th anniversary of the occupation in Gaza.
He was released ten days later upon posting bail of P3,000 on charges of slight physical injuries.
According to Yu’s paralegals, they were only informed of the charges four days after his inquest on June 10. In his inquest, the complainant initially filed for physical injuries, alarms and scandals, and unjust vexation.
Such charges, according Karapatan National Capital Region, is a common narrative used by state authorities or accomplices against activists being targeted for arrest in protests.
Grim situation in jail
Yu’s activism and stance for peace have not been without personal cost.
“Way back pa yong nangyayaring ethnic cleansing, yong pag-occupy ng Zionist regime sa Palestine. I’m just all for peace. I just want to urge others to consider and review kung subconsciously we oppress other beings. Na katulad ko, I was detained for 10 days na walang kasalanan, but how about the animals, ang mga bata sa Palestine. Nasesentensyahan ng death penalty without doing any harm. It boils down to us to choose what’s right over what’s easy.” said Yu.
[Ethnic cleansing in Palestine has been happening for a long time, with the occupation by the Zionist regime in Palestine. I’m just all for peace. I just want to urge others to consider and review if we subconsciously oppress other beings. Like me, I was detained for 10 days without any wrongdoing, but what about the animals, the children in Palestine? They are sentenced to death penalty without doing any harm. It boils down to us to choose what’s right over what’s easy]
As of writing, the Health Ministry in Gaza reported a death toll of Palestinians has reached 37,372 since the relentless genocidal war of Israel on the Gaza strip.
Yu was merely taking pictures to inform his colleagues of his arrival at a protest venue when Taguig City Police personnel approached him and asked for his identification. Yu complied, showing them his ID.
Despite following their instructions to leave the area, he was followed by a security officer from the Israeli embassy. According to Yu, the officer was the first to throw a punch. In self-defense, Yu reacted by pushing or attempting to punch back.
“Feeling ko nga, dapat yung nanuntok yung inaresto nila. Wala pa rin akong idea bakit ganito ang nangyayari,” Yu argued.
[I feel that they should have arrested the one who punched. I still have no idea why this is happening]
Yu was immediately handcuffed and brought to the nearest police substation. From the substation, Yu was held incommunicado for two hours before he was allowed to contact his girlfriend.
“Pinapriotize nilang malipat ako ng police station sa Taguig. So after mugshot, medical. Nagulat nga ako na nagkaroon ng findings na siya ang may galos, ako wala,” Yu added.
[They prioritized transferring me to the police station in Taguig. So after mugshot, medical. I was surprised that there were findings that he had bruises, and I had none]
Yu was transferred to two locations: one in a police station in Brgy. Tuktukan, Taguig City, where he stayed for a day, and the other in Camp Bagong Diwa, where he was classified as a high-profile inmate.
During his detention, Yu firsthand witnessed the grim horrors for persons deprived of liberty (PDL) especially when there are no means of immediate attention for visits, legal proceedings or even the basic necessities on food and medical care.
“I don’t know kung ano talagang nagcacause ng delays nung inaresto ako. Pero sa nakikita ko rin sa fellow inmates ko, supposedly dapat three months lang pero nagiging one year. I guess if nobody will process your papers ay wala talagang mangyayari. I have seen the people inside, na supposedly lalabas na pero naiipit nang matagal,” Yu added.
[I don’t know what really caused the delays when I was arrested. But based on what I see with my fellow inmates, what should have been three months ends up being one year. I guess if nobody processes your papers, nothing will really happen. I have seen people inside who should have been released but get stuck for a long time]
Red-tagged and detained
Yu condemned the red-tagging he experienced soon as he was transferred to Camp Bagong Diwa on June 10. It was also the same day of his inquest.
“Harmful at dangerous talaga ang red-tagging. Katulad ko, first time ko lang madetain tapos may ganoon pa. I don’t know how to react. Nagulat lang talaga ako and I don’t know what will happen,” said Yu.
[Red-tagging is really harmful and dangerous. Like me, it was my first time getting detained and then this happened. I don’t know how to react. I was really surprised and I don’t know what will happen]
From this instance, Yu already knew that his arrest is politically motivated following the delaying tactics and law enforcement operations.
“Sa tingin ko nga tatagal pa ako mula nang narinig coming from their mouth na nared-tag ako. It was possible to delay my release,” Yu shared.
On May 8, the Supereme Court declared that red-tagging, vilification, labeling, and guilt by association poses a threat to a person’s right to life, liberty, or security. Victims of red-tagging may file for the issuance of a writ of amparo.
Until now, red-tagging is not yet considered a criminal case, but for most human rights defenders like Karapatan NCR emphasized the High Court’s ruling which can be amplified to supplement their demands in the abolition of National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflct (NTF-ELCAC) as well as the perpetrators of red-tagging.
Yu’s experience underscored the dire situation in local jails and the systemic issues that prolong the suffering of PDLs. He called on the Marcos Jr. government to review cases of wrongful accusations, ensure sufficient evidence before detaining individuals, and improve the living conditions for PDLs.
“Sana mareview ng government yung mga wrongfully accused, not enough evidence, yong kalagayan ng mga inmates na wala talagang makain. Iyon ang naging concern ko e. Karapatan talaga yung access to food, hygiene, health.” Yu emphasized.
[I hope the government reviews cases of those wrongfully accused or lacking sufficient evidence, and also addresses the conditions of inmates who truly have nothing to eat. That has been my concern. Access to food, hygiene, and health are fundamental rights]
Intersectionality of struggle: Animal rights and human rights advocacy
Yu is actively participating in campaigning and mobilizing for Manila Vegans, Animal Save Movement, Metro Manila Save, and Plant based treaty Philippines.
According to him, he sees intersectionality of his activism work as an animal rights defender to human rights in amplifying calls for anti-wars, labor rights, mental health, and even jail reforms.
“Mayroong oppression sa class. Sa mga interaction ko with slaughterhouse workers, yong work nila parang last resort nalang nila kasi mababa ang acceptance sa mga jobs sa gusto nilang pasukan. Napipilitan sila to kill animals everyday and as human beings would later develop mental instability,” said Yu.
[There is oppression in terms of class. In my interactions with slaughterhouse workers, their work seems like their last resort because there is low acceptance in the jobs they want to enter. They are forced to kill animals every day, and as human beings, they may later develop mental instability]
Yu’s activism work involved mobilizing animal rights activists in love-based and compassion movement where they often visit marginalized communities and slaughterhouses in Pasay, Tondo and other areas.
“Ang slaughterhouses, maingay, mabaho; so noise pollution, water pollution, lahat ng ito napupunta sa community. Hindi rin naman makakaangal ang communities kasi nasa maiilap din naman na mga kalagayan. Kadalasan din ang mga employees, walang proper compensation and benefits,” Yu explained.
[Slaughterhouses are noisy, smelly; so there’s noise pollution, water pollution, all of these affect the community. Communities can’t complain either because they are also in difficult situations. Often, employees also lack proper compensation and benefits]
In a 2023 study on The Psychological Impact of Slaughterhouse Employment, researchers found out the links of slaughterhouse killings on the prevalence of mental health issues, coping mechanisms, and even with crime perpetration.
“The qualitative work conducted by Victor and Barnard (2016) found that South African SHWs reported suffering from the following psychological issues at the beginning of their employment as a consequence of their first kill: trauma, intense shock, paranoia, fear, anxiety, guilt, and shame,” it read in the study
There are also workers being incapable of coping with the lack of breaks and therefore needed extended lengths of time to recuperate. The study also noted slaughterhouse labor as dehumanizing as workers described their role as part of a machine and thus easily replaceable.
Yu’s approach in mobilizing activists through love and compassion is central to his advocacy in understanding and addressing the overlapping struggles of humans and animal. As Yu’s work demonstrates, fighting for animal rights goes hand in hand with advocating for human rights.
“Sa vegan community ko natutunan ang intersectionalism, ‘yong suffering ng humans at animals ay nag-ooverlap. There’s no way na mahalaga ang isa,” Yu added.
[In the vegan community, I learned about intersectionalism, where the suffering of humans and animals overlaps. There’s no way that one is more important]
