Police Brigadier General Albert Ignatius Ferro, Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) director, has warned those who plan to hold a rally on June 12 that they can be arrested.| CDN Digital file photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO – 7) warned participants planning to join Independence Day protest on Friday that they could be arrested.
Police Brigadier General Albert Ignatius Ferro, PRO-7 director, said they received orders from the headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to disperse any mass gatherings such as protests in compliance with prevailing quarantine protocols.
But Ferro said the police might arrest those who would resist orders to stop the rally.
“Our order from the higher headquarters is that we will exert maximum tolerance and negotiate for their dispersal. But if they don’t obey the request, and we are forced to arrest them and file case against them” Ferro told the media in a teleconference Thursday, June 11.
“Since we are still under GCQ (general community quarantine), mass protests and mass gatherings are still not allowed… Even the Secretary of Interior and Local Government ordered to disperse doing mass action and protests because, under the law, it is not allowed,” he added.
Militant groups in Cebu have earlier confirmed that they would be organizing and joining in rallies on June 12 as the nation would be expected to celebrate its 122nd Independence Day.
READ MORE: Undeterred, militant groups in Cebu to stage June 12 rally
Similar to what happened a week ago, which led to the arrest of eight people, activists will be calling once again for the rejection of the controversial Anti-Terror Bill.
The incident last June 5 occurred in front of the University of the Philippines Cebu (UP Cebu). Police have been placed under wide scrutiny for conducting warrantless arrests.
But Ferro stood by with their stance that no law was violated when state forces dispersed and arrested eight individuals last June 5.
In his recent interview, Ferro said the police were not preventing protesters to exercise their freedom of expression.
“We are not preventing their freedom of expression they could express in their homes or virtual… it’s up to them but mass gatherings are not allowed,” he added.
Cebu City is still under general community quarantine (GCQ), and the city government has prohibited public gatherings. /dbs
READ MORE: PNP, DILG warn terror bill critics planning June 12 protests