Free Christina Pasion and Binay Serrano Now! Stop the Terror and Criminalization of Activists!

Statement of the International Migrants Alliance (IMA) on the Illegal Arrest of Christina Pasion and Binay Serrano

Christina Pasion, a volunteer from the USA, and Binay Serrano, a Mangyan-Buhid organizer, were illegally arrested on July 30, 2026, in Cabuyao, Laguna. This illegal arrest was carried out by the 68th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police while the two organizers were seeking medical treatment. They were arbitrarily arrested while trying to obtain medical care for their health.

There is no justification for this detention.

For months, they had been subjected to harassment and intimidation on social media, before the Philippine military eventually used allegations of their links to the New People’s Army (NPA) to justify their illegal detention. Such baseless accusations are part of a common pattern: accuse, intimidate, arrest, and criminalize. This is political repression.

The arrests of Christina and Binay took place amid growing military intimidation, forced displacement, and serious violations of International Humanitarian Law in the Philippines. The military is being used to silence human rights defenders, workers, peasants and indigenous communities.

The Philippine military and police are not protecting their people against land grabbing and exploitation. They are tools used by the ruling class to protect their interests. The people who fight against poverty, land grabbing, exploitation, and injustice are the ones being terrorized and silenced.

The dominance of the United States in the Philippines continue to push the people deeper into poverty and insecurity.

We condemn US domination over the Philippines.

US military and economic interests further fuel conflict and exploitation in the country. The interests of war and corporate profit are placed above the lives of the people. Land, resources, and people’s lives continue to be taken, while the people are forced into poverty, violence, and forced migration.

We stand firmly with Christina Pasion, Binay Serrano, workers, peasants, migrants, human rights defenders, and all the people of the Philippines who are fighting for national democracy.

We will not remain silent when humanitarian volunteers and organizers are criminalized.

We will not allow baseless labels and accusations to be used to justify arrests and state violence.

We firmly demand that the Philippine government release Christina Pasion and Binay Serrano immediately!

Drop all the fabricated charges against them!

Stop the criminalization and silencing of activists, human rights defenders, and people who fight for their rights!

We stand not only against repression and all forms of fascist attacks, but we will not stop calling for the release of all political detainees.

We stand with Christina and Binay against fascist attacks!

Free our comrades, Christina Pasion and Binay Serrano, now!