Palace to protesters: We don’t want you to catch COVID-19

Malacañang on Thursday asked critics of the government to comply with the restrictions on mass gatherings amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque made the appeal after left-leaning groups held protests in Manila on Wednesday to denounce the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

They also called for justice following the deaths of peasant leader Randy Echanis and Baby River, the daughter of detained activist Reina Mae Nasino.

“Alam ninyo po ang karapatan ng malayang pananalita ay garantiyado po ng ating Saligang Batas," Roque said at a news conference.

"Gayunpaman, ang aking pakiusap lang po, panahon po ng COVID at kahit kayo po ay lumalaban at kalaban ng gobyerno, pinangangalagaan po namin ang inyong kalusugan. Ayaw namin kayong ma-COVID,” he added.

Roque said gatherings had been limited to only 10 people.

“Maski kayo po ay walang ginawa kung hindi labanan ang gobyerno, Pilipino pa rin po kayo at may obligasyon pa rin kaming isalba kayo kung kayo’y magkakasakit. Make it easier for everyone po, huwag pong magtipun-tipon,” Roque said.

The Palace also issued a similar appeal ahead of the Independence Day celebration on June 12, but this did not stop anti-government forces from holding rallies.

Mass gatherings are currently prohibited to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19, which has already killed nearly 6,800 people in the Philippines. -NB, GMA News