Human rights activist Myrna Cruz-Abraham was arrested by members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Army in San Rafael, Bulacan on January 27, 2025. She was then transferred to the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Camp Karingal, Quezon City, where she turned 70 years old on January 30.
Reports say that her arrest was connected to a “frustrated murder” case dating back to 2007. According to human rights organization Karapatan, Cruz-Abraham was abducted in 2010 and charged with trumped-up murder after she surfaced; she spent nine months in custody until the charges were dismissed due to lack of evidence.
Cruz-Abraham was released on bail on February 4, 2025, after enduring eight days in detention. On February 21, she has pleaded not guilty. Her pretrial has been scheduled for March 7.
Human rights groups the arrest. “The cases the state security forces have against Cruz-Abraham are based on concocted lies that are meant to persecute an activist who has tirelessly worked for human and people’s rights,” Karapatan. Reports say that Cruz-Abraham is a dedicated human rights defender who has spent decades working for marginalized communities in the Philippines, including women, workers, indigenous peoples, and farmers.
Photo © Raffy Lerma