(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!#JunkTerrorBill #GrandMananita pic.twitter.com/rCtiMhGQr7
— Iñigo Abellar #JunkTerrorBill (@InigoAbellar) June 12, 2020