“The illegal arrest and detention of at least 18 activists and the violent dispersal of peaceful protests during the June 12 Independence Day activities illustrate the gross violations of the right to free speech and assembly under the BS Aquino administration,” said Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general.
“The illegal arrest and detention of at least 18 activists and the violent dispersal of peaceful protests during the June 12 Independence Day activities illustrate the gross violations of the right to free speech and assembly under the BS Aquino administration,” said Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general.
In Iloilo City, five activists were arrested by the Philippine National Police where Pres. Benigno Aquino III led the Independence Day vin d’honneur at the Old Iloilo Provincial Capitol. The activists held a peaceful protest to call attention to the absence of real independence citing “unhampered plunder and military aggression of the US in the Philippines through neoliberal economic policies and the US-PH Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement as among the reasons.”
Reylan Vergara, Karapatan-Panay secretary general, was among those arrested. Others who were jailed were Alfonso Geonago and Ceasar Lope Espadeniado of Pamanggas peasant organization Pamanggas, Marlon dela Cruz of Kadamay, and Ann Marie Primalion of Bayan Panay. Seminarian Angel de Francisca of St. Paul’s Theological Seminary sustained cuts in the head and right eyebrow while Anakbayan Panay spokesperson Bryan Bosque sustained bruises in arms and hands. The police also used water cannons against the protesters.
Charges of disobedience to lawful order, malicious mischief, resisting arrest, and direct assault were filed against Vergara and the four other activists. They were released on bail on June 13, 1:30am, after being detained for 15 hours at the PNP Iloilo City Police Precinct 1.
In Kawit, Cavite, 13 activists from Bayan-Southern Tagalog were also arrested while holding a protest action. They were later released after an indignation rally was conducted immediately after the arrest.
Karapatan documented at least 25, 179 victims of violent dispersals of mass actions and public assemblies from July 2010 to March 30, 2015.
“The violent dispersal of mass actions and assemblies attest to the irony of the celebration of the Philippine independence. How can we truly be free when the voices of the people are muffled by State forces? How can we be truly free when the BS Aquino government acts as the modern-day peddler of the country’s resources and territory to US and other imperialist nations?” Palabay ended.