AN ACTIVIST denied involvement in any armed encounter and alleged that the attempted murder case filed against him was fabricated after police arrested him in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City on Monday, Aug. 31, 2026.
John Tabada Ruiz, 54, vice president of progressive group Makabayan Visayas, said he was prepared to face the case in court but maintained that he had no involvement in the incident cited in the charge.
Police arrested Ruiz at 5:56 p.m. at his residence on a warrant for attempted murder.
Authorities identified him as Cebu Province’s number one wanted person and, in a police periodic status report, as “Deputy Secretary 2” of the Cebu Party Committee.
Questioning warrant
Ruiz said the case stemmed from an incident in January 2024 and questioned why the warrant was served only Monday.
He also said this was the second case linking him to an armed encounter. In 2023, he said, he was accused of involvement in an armed encounter in Toboso, Negros Occidental.
“I am indeed active as an activist, but I was never involved in any armed encounter that they may be alleging,” Ruiz said in Cebuano.
He questioned why the cases against him involved incidents in Negros Occidental when he is based in Cebu City.
Fabrication alleged
He alleged that the cases were fabricated to silence activists and intimidate young people who support their cause.
Ruiz said his arrest would not stop him from criticizing the government, particularly over what he described as the misuse of public funds.
The information provided did not include a police response to Ruiz’s allegation that the cases against him were fabricated.
Ruiz said he had just attended a National Heroes’ Day rally at the University of the Philippines Cebu in Barangay Lahug when police arrested him after he returned home. He said he did not resist arrest.
Walter Gerardo Zorilla, presiding judge of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 55 in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, issued the warrant. Bail was set at P120,000.
Ruiz posted bail on Wednesday, Sept. 2. He is expected to face the attempted murder case before the RTC Branch 55. / AYB
