SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project investigates and reports attacks on higher education with the aim of raising awareness, generating advocacy, and increasing protection for scholars, students, and academic communities. Starting July 1, 2026, SAR no longer publishes reports for the incidents that it records. SAR continues to monitor and record incidents that will be used in the annual Free to Think report. This page provides a record of incidents reported up to that date. Learn more about the Academic Freedom Monitoring Project.

Date of Incident: September 21, 2025

Attack Types: Killings, Violence, Disappearances | Imprisonment

Institution(s):University of the Philippines

Region & Country:Southeastern Asia | Philippines

New or Ongoing:New Incident

On September 21, 2025, police forcibly arrested Mattheo Wovi Villanueva, a student from the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Arts and Letters, during an anti-corruption mobilization.

Villanueva was attending a protest against the Bongbong Marcos administration over alleged corruption and mismanagement in national flood management infrastructure projects. During the demonstration, he served as a security marshal and provided paralegal support to a member of the protest’s media team.

Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse protest crowds, arresting nearly 200 people, including Villanueva. Footage circulating on social media showed police dragging, beating, and kicking him. Villanueva later reported that police in riot gear beat him and others “for almost three hours” while they were cramped together inside a tent on Mendiola Street. Authorities held Villanueva for four days before releasing him.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the use of force during a student protest. While state authorities have the responsibility to maintain order and prevent disruption, they must refrain from the disproportionate use of force and endangerment of civilians and must respect the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression. Students and members of the public must refrain from violence, especially on campus, and also respect the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression. Such actions, beyond harming the immediate victims, have a chilling effect on academic freedom.

Sources:
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/10/23/2481998/police-harassment-students-over-september-21-rallies-denounced
https://www.facebook.com/phkule/posts/breaking-mattheo-wovi-villanueva-a-student-from-the-college-of-arts-and-letters-/1224528333054535/
https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/23/up-student-leaders-pnp-quick-to-go-after-youth-slow-against-corrupt-execs-1524
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/youth-groups-condemn-arrest-students-riots-september-21-2025/
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/09/22/2474626/fact-check-police-dispersal-arrest-protesters-during-sept-21-protests-reported-media
https://www.facebook.com/KabataanUPD/posts/pfbid02bGMCy2VXSNj6DCKHRKyrZLxJV9CMzoSWzQafNmVbjptD5Wq6pCjPETYKN4B62Nnxl