A progressive coalition of political parties condemned “in the strongest terms” the filing of “trumped-up charges” against 10 of its Senate candidates by the Manila police.
Among the 13 new respondents in the second wave of charges for alleged violations of the Marcosian Public AssemblyAct (Batas Pambansa 880), the 10 Senate aspirants of the Makabayan Coalition attended the Bonifacio Day Rally at Recto Avenue last November 30.
Also charged was Bayan Muna Partylist third nominee and former Rep. Ferdinand Gaite as well as ACT national chairperson Vlademir Quetua and Cristy Donguines of the Alliance of Health Workers.
Charged in the first wave of police complaints were elderly Bayan Muna organizer Nilo Montifero, Kilusang Mayo Uno chairperson Elmer Labog and several John Does.
Included in the second Manila Police District (MPD) charge sheet are ACT Party Rep. France Castro, Gabriela Party Rep. Arlene Brosas, Makabayan President and former representative Liza Maza, KMU secretary general Jerome Adonis of KMU, nurse Alyn Andamo, fisherfolk Ronnel Arambulo of Pamalakaya, urban poor leader Mimi Doringo of Kadamay, transport leader Mody Floranda of PISTON, Moro leader Amirah Lidasan of Sandugo and peasant leader Danilo Ramos of KMP.
“It has been the practice of the PNP to file shotgun cases against every identifiable personality present at a rally even if these personalities have not committed any crime,” Makabayan said in a statement last Thursday.
“The sloppy, wholesale filing by the MPD even misidentified Mody Floranda of Piston as ‘female’ and Moro leader Amirah Lidasan as a member of ACT,” the Coalition added.
The respondents were leaders of a rally intended to be held at Mendiola Bridge, a traditional site for such activities, but were blocked by the MPD along Recto Avenue near San Sebastian College.
The protesters insisted on their right to assemble at Mendiola but were refused, leading to a brief scuffle with MPD personnel.
The protesters were forced to hold their rally along the thoroughfare, dispersing peacefully after their activity.
The hearing for preliminary investigation on the charges has been set on January 15 in Manila.
Makabayan said they are in contact with the respondent leaders and their lawyers and will mount a strong legal defense against this latest “harassment suit” from the police.
“The practice of filing trumped up charges of ‘illegal assembly’ must stop. Marching to Mendiola to denounce injustice should not be criminalized,” Makabayan said.
The group added that the Ferdinand Marcos Sr.-era BP 880 should be repealed and that freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly should be upheld at all times. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
