Prosecutor clears pro-Duterte organizer against assembly violation complaint

The Office of the City Prosecutor has dismissed the complaint for violation of Batas Pambansa Blg. 880 (Public Assembly Act) against the organizer of a pro-Duterte rally, Ernesto “Jun” Sereño Abines Jr., citing lack of probable cause and an invalid warrantless arrest.

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Political vlogger Ernesto “Jun” Abines Jr. stands beside his lawyer, Atty. Ron Ivan Gingoyon, after posting bail following his arrest last week over alleged illegal assembly and protest actions during the ASEAN Tourism Forum. The prosecutor’s office has since dismissed the case for lack of probable cause. FROM JUN ABINES FACEBOOK PAGE

(FROM JUN ABINES FACEBOOK PAGE)

In a Disposition on Inquest dated January 30, 2026, Assistant City Prosecutor Lei Maurae E. Babatuan ruled that the arrest of Abines following an alleged unauthorized motorcade rally on January 29, 2026, did not fall under any of the legal exceptions that allow warrantless arrests under Rule 113, Section 5 of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure.

Abines was arrested at around 10:15 a.m. and was charged following a police operation conducted by personnel of the Cebu City Police Office-Police Station 4.