PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Archie Gamboa on Tuesday, June 9, urged the public to consider other ways of staging protest actions instead of a street rally because of the raging coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
Gamboa issued the appeal ahead of the planned protest actions to mark Independence Day on Friday, June 12.
"Ngayon kasi, in a situation na mayroon tayong pandemic, there is an added demand from the public which is actually the requirement of less mass gathering and social distancing,” he said in a televised press briefing.
“Openly nga sinabi ko, kung puwede sana, I mean 'yung right to express your own opinion can be done in some other ways. Huwag naman sana itong mass gathering kasi nga may inoobserba tayong pandemic," he added.
Activists are planning a protest rally, which they have dubbed as a mañanita after the birthday celebration that National Capital Region Police Office personnel held for Major General Debold Sinas in violation of quarantine protocols.
A Facebook post by the Congress of Teachers/Educators for Nationalism and Democracy (Contend) announces a protest action at 10:30 a.m. on June 12 in the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman. Unauthorized police and military presence Is prohibited within UP premises.