Tuesday, June 06, 2006
5 students nabbed for staging protest near Palace
THE Manila policemen on Monday arrested five students of the state-owned Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) and two others for illegal assembly in Malacañang, a violation of Batas Pambansa (BP) 880, which has been recently rendered constitutional by the Supreme Court (SC).
Arrested were Chester Amparo, 21; Michael dela Cruz, 21; Lanie Ramirez, 20; Francisco Vergara, 19; and Bobby de Guzman, 19, who are all students of PUP based in Sta. Mesa, Manila. Also nabbed were Joseph Inocando and Joey Estopin, both 27 and working as trolley boys in the rail tracks in Sta. Mesa.
The youths are detained at the headquarters of the General Assignments Section (GAS) of the Manila Police District (MPD).
A report said the suspects and some 30 other youths who managed to elude police, started a lightning protest rally at the Don Chino Roces Bridge, a stone's throw away from Gate 7 of Malacañang at 10:30 a.m. Monday.
While not bearing any placards, the group belonging to the Youth for Nationalism and Democracy (YND) were giving out pamphlets and leaflets to passersby and flagging down motorists as they call for the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for her "poor treatment of education".
The group claimed that the Arroyo administration has been spending more on debt servicing than on education.
When the policemen went to the rally site and asked for their permit to rally, the youngsters could not present any. This subsequently led to their arrest with the propaganda papers in their possession held as evidence against them. (ECV/Sunnex)
(June 6, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
