(UPDATED) Activists ignored warnings against holding a street rally and turned up at a protest action at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman campus Friday, June 12, to call for the scrapping of the anti-terrorism bill and mark Independence Day.
The rally, dubbed the "Grand Mañanita" in scornful reference to the birthday celebration of National Capital Region Police Office Director Debold Sinas amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, pushed through despite the checkpoints and blockades set up by the police.
Rains brought by Tropical Depression Butchoy did not dampen the protesters' spirits. They wore face masks and observed physical distancing in compliance with health protocols to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, or Sars-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19.
Among the protesters were members of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), Karapatan Alliance Philippines, Gabriela, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Movement Against Tyranny and Commission on Human Rights.
Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University joined the protest with the holding of their own picket rallies inside their respective campuses.
Hours before the protesters arrived, policemen in combat uniforms set up checkpoints and blockade outside the perimeter of UP's Diliman campus.
Police did not, however, stop anybody from going inside the campus and exercised maximum tolerance.
LOOK: Independence day protest WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING at UP Diliman! pic.twitter.com/rCtiMhGQr7
— Iñigo Abellar #JunkTerrorBill (@InigoAbellar)
In his speech, Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes said they were angered by the fact that despite the problems and issues caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the government prioritized the passage of the anti-terrorism bill.
The bill, which President Rodrigo Duterte certified as urgent on June 1, was approved by the House of Representatives on June 3. The House merely adopted the Senate version, which was approved in February 2020 yet.
The bill is now awaiting the signature of Duterte, who has 30 days to review and either veto or approve it.
Reyes also condemned the arrest of six Piston jeepney drivers in Caloocan and seven protesters and one bystander in UP Cebu.
He lamented the death of stranded commuter Michelle Silvertino, who died while waiting for a bus in Pasay City, and the suffering of commuters amid the limited public transport systems.
"Sa dami ng problema ng bansa, magtataka talaga kayo kung bakit inuuna ang terror law. Sabi ng isang pulis, wala daw sa timing ang pagkilos natin kasi may pandemya. Alam nyo kung ano ang wala sa timing? 'Yung ipipilit nyo ang terror law habang rumaragasa ang krisis sa kalusugan at kabuhayan," he said.
Birthday party
Artist Mae Paner, also known as Juana Change, channeled Sinas and came wearing an orange shirt and brown shorts while carrying dozens of red roses.
Sinas caused public outrage last month when he allowed NCRPO personnel to hold a mañanita to celebrate his birthday despite the prohibition against mass gatherings.
Protesters brought a Voltes 5 cake and statue, similar to what Sinas had during his May 8 birthday celebration. Sinas and 19 others are now facing cases of violation of quarantine protocols.
Duterte had defended Sinas, further fueling public outrage.
"Sabi ng isang opisyal mayroon tayong mga alituntunin na dapat sinusunod ng mamamayan. Pero ser, nawalan na kayo ng moral ascendancy na pasunurin kami nung inarbor nyo ang mga opisyal na lumabag din sa mga alituntunin. Sukdulan na ang double standards sa bansang ito, nakakasuka na," said Reyes.
Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Brigadier General Bernard Banac said the situation all over the country remained peaceful and orderly without untoward incidents reported as of 12 noon Friday.
"We thank the public for celebrating Independence Day at home and the protesters for heeding our call to disperse peacefully and go home early," he said.
If enacted into law, the anti-terrorism bill would repeal the Human Security Act of 2007.
The law will allow warrantless arrests of suspected members of terrorist groups, who may be detained for up to 24 days without charges.
The police and military will no longer have to pay P500,000 damages per day of detention of any suspected terrorist.
Any person who shall threaten to commit terrorism and those who will propose any terroristic acts or incite others to commit terrorism shall suffer the penalty of 12 years in prison while the same punishment may also be imposed on any person who shall voluntarily join any terrorist organization or group, among others.
Ban on rallies
The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday night, June 11, warned that it will impose penalties on street protesters as mass gatherings are temporarily not allowed only for public health reasons.
"Violations may give rise to penal sanctions under existing public health laws, not under criminal laws," Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra had said.
In a statement, the National Union of People's Lawyers (NUPL) said no law has been passed to prevent protest actions amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
"There is no law prohibiting rallies during the Covid-19 pandemic. R.A. No. 11469 (Bayanihan Act) and R.A. 11332 (Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases) do not prohibit rallies. They do not have provisions allowing arrests simply on the alleged violation of "mass gathering or quarantine rules," the group said.
"Various IATF (Inter Agency Task Force) rules and executive orders on enhanced and general community quarantine - which are not criminal laws - do not prohibit rallies or authorize the arrest of rallyists," they added.
Human rights group Karapatan said the DOJ's threat is a "blatant affront to civil liberties."
"They are making a massive travesty of Independence Day, a day when we are supposed to be commemorating our continuing struggle for freedom," Karapatan secretary general Christina Palabay said.
"There is a loud clamor opposing the anti-terrorism bill, demanding justice and accountability, and the government is scared of people taking the streets," she said. (With a report from Jove T. Moya/VoxPop Philippines)