Protests vs PUP student's arrest ‘agitation propaganda’ –MPD

The Polytechnic University of the Philippines-SPEAK's protest against the detention of a PUP engineering student over alleged violations of the enhanced community quarantine was “agitation propaganda,” the Manila Police District said on Sunday.

The MPD claimed that PUP-SPEAK was exploiting “the recent arrest of their colleague in order to project their relevance and create an illusion that the PNP is bent on violating the human rights of people in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic.”

The MPD added that the group's social media campaign was “part of their agitation-propaganda campaign in the guise of human rights advancement in their bid to discredit and undermine the Duterte administration.”

The MPD said its office would continue to monitor PUP-SPEAK’s plan and coordinate with its field units for necessary police action or interventions.

In a statement on Saturday, PUP-SPEAK condemned the arrest of its member, mechanical engineering student Rexon Aumentado, and called for his immediate release as he was “illegally detained” and was “charged with false accusations.”

The group said Aumentado was on his way to the market to buy relief supplies when policemen from the Police Community Precinct #8 in Sta. Mesa, Manila apprehended him for going out without a valid home quarantine pass.



PUP-SPEAK said charges of violation of the Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code or the falsification of document, Article 151 or the disobedience and resistance to person-in-authority, and Republic Act 11332 were filed against Aumentado.

However, when the group coordinated with Barangay 587, the local officials said they had a double-entry home quarantine pass issuance on their part.

With this, the barangay appealed to the MPD and certified that Aumentado was a legitimate holder of a home quarantine pass and a resident of their area.

But despite the certification, PUP-SPEAK said the police still did not release Aumentado.

“Kinikilala rin nating tama ang naging hakbang ng pamahalaan sa pagpapatupad ng enhanced community quarantine upang pigilan ang papalaki pang bilang ng nahahawaan, nagkakasakit, at namamatay,” it said.

“Ngunit, ang bagong karanasang ito maging ang mga bagong pamamaraan gaya ng ECQ ay hindi dapat gamitin upang supilin o patahimikin ang mamamayan; bagkus, ito ay dapat na maging daan upang makita ang mga kahinaan at baguhin kung ano ang mga mali sa kasalukuyang sistema,” PUP-SPEAK added.

Prior to his arrest, the group said Aumentado served as a volunteer in aiding stranded dormers and service workers amid the ECQ. — DVM, GMA News