Protesters nabbed at UP Cebu ordered released by court

A court in Cebu City has ordered the release of the eight persons arrested at a protest at the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu last Friday.

Judge Jenelyn Forrosuelo of the Cebu City Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 4 ordered the immediate release of the eight unless they are detained for another lawful cause, according to a copy of the joint order posted by the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers' (NUPL) Cebu chapter on Monday.

NUPL Cebu identified the "Cebu 8" as Jaime Paglinawan, Joahanna Veloso, Al Ingking, Bern Cañedo, Dyan Gumanao, Nar Porlas, Janry Ubal, and Clement Corominas. The lawyers' group said Corominas was a bystander.

The NUPL said the eight face charges for alleged violation of the Public Assembly Act of 1985; "non-cooperation" under the law on reporting of communicable diseases; as well as for simple resistance and disobedience to an agent of a person in authority, cases that the NUPL said fall under the rule on summary procedure.

The court directed the eight to appear in court within 10 days from receiving the to submit their counter-affidavits to the charges and their witness' affidavits.

Based on the release order, the court did not require bail.

"Arresting the Cebu 8 only bolsters the calls of the supposedly peaceful protest action where they were apprehended -- to junk the Anti-Terrorism Bill in its totality," NUPL Cebu said in a statement.

"Impelled by the current administration's flagrant disregard for our freedoms of speech, expression, assembly, and association, this legislation creates a legal justification for the commission of human rights violations," it said.

Police arrested the so-called "Cebu 8" at a protest action against the anti-terrorism bill in front of UP Cebu last Friday.

The administration said it was "deeply disturbed" by the dispersal and arrest of the "peaceful protesters."

The Philippine National Police (PNP) claimed over the weekend that the arrest had nothing to do with the controversial proposed law and was instead in line with the enforcement of the COVID-19 community quarantine. -NB, GMA News