Tag: protest

Statements

On Planned Protests Against the Anti-Terror Bill

Under the Bill of Rights in our Constitution, “no law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.”

Thus, the plan of those opposing the Anti-Terrorism Bill to hold protests on Independence Day – regardless of whether they have read and understood the bill – is their basic right, guaranteed under the Bill of Rights.

Such basic rights shall remain guaranteed even if and when the Anti-Terrorism Bill is signed into law by the President and becomes effective.

Having said that, they should only be conscious and mindful of the existing protocols in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Statements

On the Incident that Marred a Protest at the US Embassy

That was a judgement call made by one policeman behind the wheel of a police van who might have felt threatened by the possibility of being lynched by the protesters, and who impulsively drove the van wherever he could to avoid the dire consequences of his inaction. I think it’s unfair to the Philippine National Police as an institution to be accused of police brutality.

It was a personal judgement call of the driver of the van. Maximum tolerance or not, he acted based on his appreciation of the situation prevailing at the time he made that move.

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