Eleazar to those planning to hold Independence Day protests: Think twice

Joint Task Force COVID Shield chief Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar urged individuals who are planning to conduct protest actions on Friday, Independence Day, to think twice if they will push through their mass protests.

In a television interview on Thursday, Eleazar pointed out that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still there, noting that quarantine protocols are still in place wherein all forms of mass gathering are prohibited.

"We would like to advise 'yun pong magra-rally to think twice kasi alam ninyo may pandemic pa rin tayo ngayon at ang ating pinoproblema diyan eh baka mamaya mapasama sila sa statistics ng magkakaroon ng infection," Eleazar told CNN.

"Kapag naka-contract sila ng virus na 'yan, dadalhin pa nila sa kanilang bahay. Remember, iba po ang sitwasyon natin ngayon, we understand ito pong ating pagbibigay ng pagkakataon na maglabas ng kanilang hinaing pero mayroon tayong protocol ngayon at sana ito ay kanilang ipagpaliban," he added.

According to Eleazar, there are other ways to voice sentiments about the government, noting that protesters can conduct online protests. He stressed that only 10 individuals would be allowed to conduct protests if groups decide to push through with their plans.

"Lahat naman ng mga tao ngayon sa totoo lang eh nandiyan sa social media," Eleazar said.

"Maximum tolerance is always there pero kapag magi-insist sila at sabihin magre-resist at mag-disobey, ibang usapan na po 'yun," he added.

Asked for reaction on calls to brand Independence Day protest actions as mañanita, Eleazar said: "Kahit ano pang protesta 'yan, parang mali ang timing kasi nga bawal ang mass gathering and even us our observing this. ‘Pag may paglabag ito ay ating iimbestigahan."

It was opposition Senator Francis Pangilinan who advised protesters to call their gathering as mañanita. It was an apparent reference to National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Police Major General Debold Sinas, who drew flak last May for holding a birthday celebration despite the prohibition on mass gathering.

Sinas and other police officers were slapped with criminal and administrative complaints due to the event. Sinas, however, stays as NCRPO chief.

Meanwhile, Malacañang also called on people planning to hold mass protests to coincide with the celebration of the Philippine independence to express their sentiments instead on social media.—AOL, GMA News