Rally vs up budget cut police arrest 11 protest leaders

ILOILO CITY, Philippines – Eleven prominent members of militant groups were arrested Thursday afternoon in this city where they led a protest rally against the government’s budget cut in the University of the Philippines-Visayas and the country’s education system.

Those arrested by the Iloilo City Police Office were Hope Hervilla, Bayan-Panay chairperson; Reylan Vergara, Bayan-Panay deputy secretary-general; Rea Ogoy; Anna Marie Primallion; Gabriel Guillen; Father Marco Sulayao, vicar general of the Iloilo Diocese of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente; Winnie Dublizo, secretary-general of Kilusang Mayo Uno-Panay; Rene Paredes; Bryan Bosque, Anakbayan spokesperson; and UPV Professors Gretchen Velarde and Eric Aguilar.

The arrested militant leaders were brought to the ICPO for detention, while their lawyers, headed by Niel San Felix, Rene Estocapio and Janne Baterna talked to police officer-in-charge. They were later released early Friday morning after several hours of detention at the ICPO.

The protest action was participated by at least 300 students and Bayan-Panay members, although the police said the number was only about a hundred.

The protesters assembled at UPV, located at General Luna Street in this city, and tried to march toward Royal Garden Hotel where the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation delegates were scheduled for dinner that night.

However, more than 200 policemen cornered the protesters, resulting in the arrest and detention of the 11 leaders. The students who joined in the rally were released later by the police.

The UPV College of Arts and Science’s student council labelled the police dispersal as harassment, but the police denied it as such, saying it was carried out peacefully and done first by issuing a warning to the protesters, composed mostly of students and teachers of UPV.

The protest also earned support from UPV Chancellor Rommel Espinosa who said it was an action against cuts on UPV budget.

Chief Superintendent Bernardo Diaz, Police Regional Office-6 director, said no physical confrontation was reported. The police first warned the protesting group to vacate the area because they were already causing traffic jam, and most importantly they have no permit for the rally.

Diaz maintained the police had observed maximum tolerance. “The police will uphold the right of streets demonstrators to peaceful assembly and freedom of expressions at all times,” he said but security is now important especially at this time when the APEC meetings are being held in the city.