Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 5) – Authorities have arrested three activists during a raid in Manila early Tuesday, Metro Manila chief Debold Sinas confirmed.

Officers from the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) and the Manila Police District apprehended Ram Carlo Bautista, Bayan Manila campaign director; Alma Moran, Manila Workers Unity secretariat member; and Ina Nacino, Kadamay-Manila coordinator in Flora Street corner Clemente Street in Tondo at around 1 a.m. The arrest was first reported by militant group Karapatan. The raid was conducted in the office of left-leaning organization Bayan, the group said.

Sinas said the local police have implemented two search warrants – one for alleged violation of Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and RA 10951 or the law adjusting the value of property and damage.

The official added he does not know which court ordered the search warrant yet or other facts of the police operation.

"We have no background yet because CIDG implemented the search warrant," Sinas said.

Karapatan strongly decried what it claimed was a “Gestapo-like raid of an office of a legal organization.”

This comes after the arrest of 57 individuals in simultaneous raids in Bacolod on October 31. Of the total, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office accused 44 activists of illegally possessing arms.