Progressive groups troop to UP for Independence Day protest actions
Appeals and warnings from the Philippine National Police and other government officials did not stop progressive groups from conducting protest actions in the University of the Philippines - Diliman campus this Independence Day 2020.
Members of militant and leftist groups assembled along University Avenue for their event dubbed as "mañanita," in apparent reference to the birthday celebration last May 8 of National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Police Major General Debold Sinas, which drew flak for violation of COVID-19 quarantine protocols.
A police checkpoint was set up at the CP Garcia entrance of the University as well as along University Avenue amid the conduct of protest action. The PNP made an appeal to the public to just make online protests in this time of quarantine.
LOOK: Nagtayo ng police checkpoint sa CP Garcia entrance ng University of the Philippines Diliman kung saan magkakaroon ng "mañanita protest" laban sa Anti-Terror Bill ngayong Araw ng Kalayaan. Meron na rin daw police checkpoint sa University Avenue. Kuha ni YouScooper Noel. pic.twitter.com/acMvAChrfw
— GMA News (@gmanews) June 12, 2020
LOOK: Karagdagang litrato ng mga police checkpoint sa paligid ng UP mula kay YouScooper Ram. pic.twitter.com/KIWqEVn5dd
— YouScoop (@YouScoop) June 12, 2020
During the "mañanita" of activists, Mae Paner dressed as Sinas. He was also wearing an orange shirt like what the police official wore during his highly-criticized birthday celebration.
Paner was also given a Voltes V cake and roses like what Sinas got during his birthday.
Namamayagpag si Sinas sa #mañanita! #JunkTerrorBill #BawiinAngKalayaan pic.twitter.com/bTePQrHj5G
— Teddy Casiño (@teddycasino) June 12, 2020
Oust Duterte, veto anti-terror bill
Protesters were seen holding placards calling for the ouster of President Rodrigo Duterte. They are also urging the national government to conduct mass testing amid the threat of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Likewise, they stressed that being an activist is not similar to being a terrorist.
Mga mensahe sa rally sa UP ngayong Araw ng Kalayaan. Tinawag itong grand mañanita bilang pasaring sa kontrobersyal na manañita para sa kaarawan ni Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/7wMw2LxHUN
— sandra aguinaldo (@sandraguinaldo) June 12, 2020
Also, a group of militants were spotted in front of the Commission on Human Rights protesting the controversial anti-terrorism bill.
Mga militanteng grupo, nagdaos ng "mañanita" sa harap ng CHR upang ipanawagan ang pagbasura sa Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 | via @MMakalalad pic.twitter.com/JSzktulvs7
— GMA News (@gmanews) June 12, 2020
—LBG, GMA News