Metro Manila Pride condemns arrest of LGBT protesters in Mendiola

Metro Manila Pride on Friday condemned the arrest of at least 20 LGBT members who held a protest on Manila's Mendiola Street.

In a statement, the LGBT group argued that the mass action was orderly with social distancing practiced by all protesters, but still they were unjustly arrested by police.

"Maayos, mapayapa at sumusunod sa patakaran ng social distancing ang ginanap na pagkilos; sa kabila nito, 20 na indibidwal ang pilit na inaresto ng kapulisan bandang 10:30 ng umaga," Metro Manila Pride said.

"Hindi makatarungan ang pag-arestong ito at idinidiin ng Metro Manila Pride ang pagkundena sa karahasan ng militar at kapulisan, lalo na sa mga marhinalisadong komunidad at mga aktibista," it added.

#SulongWagPatinag#TayoAngLunas#JunkTerrorBillNOW#AchibDisBill#TulongHindiKulong#FreePride20

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— Metro Manila Pride | #SulongWagPatinag (@mmprideorg) June 26, 2020

Reports said a police officer, without provocation, allegedly grabbed one of the protesters from behind. This protester was supposedly asking the policemen to let the speakers at the event finish their respective speeches.

However, according to Manila Police District General Assignment and Investigation Section chief Police Captain Arnold Echalar, one of the protesters had allegedly sprayed an unknown liquid at a cop.

According to the police commander, the protesters were arrested for illegal assembly and violation of the prohibition on mass gathering amid the quarantine.

Echalar said lawyers of the protesters were already at police headquarters for further investigation of the incident. — DVM, GMA News