Cebu8 to file charges vs arresting officers

CEBU, Philippines —  The camp of the eight protesters arrested for holding a rally outside the University of the Philippines (UP) campus will file countercharges against the arresting police officers, as agreed by the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) Cebu and its collaborating lawyers.

King Anthony Perez, spokesperson of Cebu8, said their legal team is now working on the submission of the counter-affidavits for the cases filed against Cebu8.

As to when it will be filed and the specific charges, it will be disclosed in due time.

“We also welcome the initiative of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Central Visayas in investigating the incident. We look forward to coordinating with the CHR in the filing of the countercharges,” read their statement.

Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) officer-in-charge Cydric Earl Tamayo had said earlier that they are ready to face should the arrested protesters file the countercharges against them.

“We will wait for their cases na ma-charge namo kung unsa man.  Kung unsa man, ato na syang tubagon para kay ilang katungod na mag counter-charge is pirming naa man na,” Tamayo had told reporters last Tuesday.

Among the arrested persons during the “Black Friday Protest” at UP Cebu last June 5 include Jaime Paglinawan of BAYAN-Central Visayas, Joahanna Veloso of the National Union of Students of the Philippines and Sangguniang Kabataan, UP Diliman alumnus Al Ingking, Bern Cañedo of YANAT Cebu and UP Cebu University Student Council, Dyan Gumanao of Kabataan Partylist, Nar Porlas of Anakbayan Cebu, Janry Ubal of Food Not Bombs Cebu, and bystander Clement Corominas.

They were charged with violations of Section 13 of the Public Assembly Act of 1985 (B.P. 880); Section 9 (e) of the Law on Reporting of Communicable Diseases (R.A. No. 11332), and simple resistance and disobedience to an agent or a person in authority under Article 151 paragraph 2 of the Revised Penal Code, cases that fall under the Rule on Summary Procedure.

Perez added that included in their eyed countercharges was the alleged unlawful arrest of the PNP personnel during the conduct of arrest in the middle of the rally.

Tamayo had mentioned that the arrest of Cebu8 was legitimate and that they are enforcing the law under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) protocols that prohibit that holding of mass gathering.  GAN (FREEMAN)