The authorities were called out by the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication on Tuesday to release one of its students among six activists who were arrested during a protest in front of the US Embassy.

Through a Facebook post, the UP CMC called on authorities to "nurture, protect, and defend our students as they responsibly exercise their constitutional rights."

In a statement, it said that they are urging the authorities to immediately release one of the students, citing their right to free speech and peaceful assembly.

Moreover, a student-led alliance for the protection of the university's academic freedom, the Defend UP Network, stated that the Manila police arrested Film student John Gabriel Magtibay when it dispersed an unannounced protest staged by activists and other youth organizations on Tuesday morning.

Protesters gathered in front of the embassy early Tuesday morning to protest the continuous deployment of US forces in the Philippines on the opening day of the 2023 Balikatan exercises, the largest in history.

In a second statement, the college also advocated for calm and responsibility in the aftermath of the arrest.

"This includes verifying the accuracy of such information, engaging in civil discussions, and caring for each other's well-being both online and in person," it said.

"We honor our freedom of information by heeding this shared responsibility," it added.

The Defend UP Network said that four of the six arrested paralegals who were at the rally have been released.

Magtibay and another student are still being held at the Manila Police Station as of this writing.

In an Ermita Police Station spot report, the two students were part of a group that "suddenly appeared in front of [the embassy] and intentionally threw paint" at the US State Department sign and insignia.

Meanwhile, a tweet from Magtibay's account stated that the police arrested him and other activists shortly after the rally ended.