After more than three years, a Mandaue City court on Thursday found Vincent Juarez, Gerome Villarino, and Oscar Villarino, workers also known as Coke Cebu 3, “not guilty” of charges of direct assault filed against them by Mandaue police.

The Coke Cebu 3, who were members of the union Progressive Workers Association in Exeltech-Ilaw at Buklod ng Manggagawa-Kilusang Mayo Uno (PWAETCC-IBM-KMU), were illegally arrested on November 16, 2018 during a picket and campout in front of the Coca-Cola Philippines, formerly Coca-Cola FEMSA, factory in Mandaue led by the Coalition of Coca-Cola Workers Organizations (CACCWO).

The campout was organized to demand the reinstatement of Coca-Cola workers who had been left on floating status. At that time, Vincent, Gerome, and Oscar were warehouse checker, sugar bodega worker, and forklift operator, respectively.

Several hours into the picket, men in plainclothes, who were later identified as PNP officers, barged into the workers’ ranks and dismantled their makeshift tent.

Uniformed PNP officers then nabbed the three workers, claiming that the latter had “mauled” them. However, video footages of the scene, including a live video from Aninaw Productions, presented otherwise. Four days after the arrest, the court ordered the release of the workers.

Police Chief Inspector Antonio Deluya of the Mandaue City police had filed cases of direct assault against the three workers.

In a Facebook post, Atty. Kristian Jacob Lora, who served as legal counsel to the workers, lauded the court’s decision to clear the charges and stated that these cases of harassment by uniformed agents are aimed to “stifle dissent” and “suppress campaigns against injustices and abuses.”

As of Karapatan’s latest report in August 2021, 1,138 Filipinos have been implicated in illegal arrest and detention under President Duterte’s term.