Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) elements of the Cebu police entered the premises of University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu and arrested at least seven among those who staged a protest against the Anti-Terrorism Bill.
Those arrested after the dispersal of the protest include Jaime Paglinawan of Bayan Central Visayas, Joahanna Veloso of National Union of Students of the Phillippines, UP Alumni Al Inking, UP Cebu University Student Council Vice Chairperson Bern Cañedo, Dyan Gumanao of Aninaw Productions, Nar Porlas of Anakbayan UP Cebu and Janry Ubal of Food Not Bombs Cebu.
The protest action started at 10 in the morning where different progressive groups and individual gathered to call for the junking of House Bill 6875 or the Anti-Terrorism Bill, which was already passed on the third and final reading at the House of Representatives on June 3.
This video, passed on by a friend, is probably the clearest footage of plainclothes cops invading the UP Cebu campus, in violation of the 1989 Soto-Eneile accord, to arrest protesters. pic.twitter.com/6i36yjBx3g
— nonoy espina (@EspinaNonoy) June 5, 2020
The police dispersed and arrested the protesters inside the campus looking for their permit and quarantine passes despite the existing Soto-Enrile Accord that bans members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) or the Philippine Constabulary-Integrated National Police (PC-INP) or the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) to interfere with peaceful protest actions by UP constituents within UP premises.
#ReleaseCebu7 RELEASE CEBU 7!!!! pic.twitter.com/6EeHLKffOT
— kler (gave up on sleeping early) (@_claireo) June 5, 2020
The activists were arrested for violation of the ban on mass gatherings under general community quarantine, according to Cebu City police. They are detained at the Cebu City Police Office headquarters at Camp Sotero Cabahug and have yet to be charged.
Protesters trapped inside campus, netizens rally help, anti-terrorism bill and Sinas assailed anew
Earlier posts said other protesters were trapped for a few hours inside the campus as police guarded all entrance/exit points and were not being allowed to receive food, medical aid or media to cover the story.
The protesters are trapped inside UP Cebu since the police are guarding the entrance and exits of the school. Media, water and food donations cannot get inside and the protesters are starving.
Please spread this for awareness!#ReleaseCebu7
— tiburcio (@stibindzan) June 5, 2020
EVEN A DOCTOR IS NOT ALLOWED TO ENTER THE UP CEBU CAMPUS FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. THIS IS INHUMANE!!!#JUNKTERRORBILL#JUNKTERRORBILLNOW
— logoRithm (@maykelangann) June 5, 2020
Netizens were quick to rally support for the besieged and arrested.
TWITTER WE NEED HELP!
We are fundraising bail money for those arrested today in UP Cebu Campus. The police came onto UP campus but this is barred accdg to the Soto Enrile Accord.
Please donate any amount here:
Gcash – 09064414320#JUNKTERRORBILLNOW #FightTyranny#ResistAsOne— Alia • #JunkTerrorBill (@aiyafish) June 5, 2020
ALERT‼️‼️ UP CEBU
NEED LAWYERS ASAP
Please. Several activists got arrested here at the protest#JUNKTERRORBILLNOW— #SaveLumadSchools (@maykamaykaba) June 5, 2020
Some pointed out that such incident exemplified how the anti-terrorism bill would be used.
IT WAS A PEACEFUL PROTEST IN UP CEBU!
THE SWAT ANSWERED WITH AGGRESSION!
What makes you think they won't abuse the Anti-Terror Bill? They are silencing us.
— #JUNKTERRORBILL (@jdmilesaway) June 5, 2020
Many pointed out the double standards applied to top government officials who were known to have violated quarantine or mass gathering or physical distancing ban.
Protesters in UP Cebu were illegally detained and harrassed for Prostestng rana ha. Reports say that it eas because of illegal mass gatherings pero they didnt do the same for Sinas? Tf selective ra kaymo ha. Ok pata, Pilipinas???
— ??. ??? #JunkTerrorBill (@RafaelNeilLim) June 5, 2020
?JEEPNEY DRIVERS ARE STILL DETAINED DAHIL SA PAGPOPROTESTA KASAMA ANG 1 LOLO.
?7 UP CEBU STUDENT LEADERS ANG HINULI DURING PROTEST KAHIT NA MAY SOCIAL DISTANCING SILA AND MISMONG MGA PULIS ANG DIKIT DIKIT WEARING RIOT GEARS.
TAPOS SI MOCHA, KOKO, AT SINAS OKS LANG⁉️ UNFAIR‼️
— ⚜️ALJEN CABRERA⚜️ (@wydaaaaalj) June 5, 2020
Bayan Manila staged an indignation rally in Tondo and called for the release of the ‘Cebu 7.’
UP Fighting Maroons basketball players support bail fund, release of those arrested
Kobe Paras, Ricci Rivero and Javi Gomez de Liaño teamed up to raise funds for those who were arrested in the anti-terrorism bill protest in UP Cebu.
I saw the news in Cebu about my fellow isko and Iskas.
To all my people there who got arrested
Thank you standing up for what is right.
To all my isko and iskas in cebu & everywhere else, stay strong, stay safe, and stand ten toes down.
We will raise money to bail those affected!— Kobe Lorenzo Forster Paras ✊? (@_kokoparas) June 5, 2020
Jun Manzo, former Fighting Maroons who hail from Cebu, joined calls to free the activists by tweeting #ReleaseCebu7.
#ReleaseCebu7 ??????
— Jun Manzo (@Jun13Manzo) June 5, 2020
