Pangilinan calls for release of 7 protesters arrested in UP Cebu

Senator Francis Pangilinan on Friday called for the release of seven protesters who were nabbed at the University of the Philippines-Cebu for condemning the anti-terror bill amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Hindi pa man batas ang nasabing panukala, ganito na ang asal ng ilang mga pulis. Dapat kasuhan ang mga ito dahil sa wrongful arrest, violation of the 1989 UP-DND Accord prohibiting police from entering UP campuses without express permission from the UP administration, among others," Pangilinan said in a statement.

The opposition senator underscored that citizens had a "duty" to criticize government officials.

"Tungkulin ito, hindi lang karapatan. Ang mga mamamayan ang pinakamabisang check sa kapalpakan, pangungurakot, pang-aabuso, at panggigipit ng mga taong-gobyerno," Pangilinan said.

"'Yan ang ginagawa ng mga UP Cebu students nang sila ay marahas na dinesperse kanina sa kanilang mapayapang protesta laban sa anti-terror bill," he added.

The police earlier said the protesters were arrested for holding a mass gathering in front of the university, which was a violation of quarantine guidelines.

The College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) likewise condemned the arrest as an attack against free speech.

"This is a clear demonstration of a fascist administration's attempts to curtail our right to free speech. The threats and attacks against protesters and continuous red-tagging are outright violations of our human rights," CEGP national president Daryl Angelo Baybado said.

The controversial terror bill, which was certified as urgent by President Rodrigo Duterte amid the health crisis, was approved by Congress this week.

United Nations rights chief Michelle Bachelet recently expressed alarm over how some Asian countries, including the Philippines, were allegedly using the COVID-19 crisis as an excuse to tighten censorship on government critics. — DVM,  GMA News