Progressive groups from Rizal, Cavite and Laguna who held a ‘despedida’ protest in time for the 4th year of President Rodrigo Duterte’s inauguration in Calamba, Laguna on June 30 were harassed and intimidated by police before they were forced to disperse.
The protest rally at Calamba Crossing observed physical distancing and commemorated the “wars against the people” under Duterte’s four-year old presidency. They bore photos of human rights victims from the Southern Tagalog Region under Duterte.
Protesters recounted the administration’s “achievements”, such as the war on drugs dubbed as Oplan Tokhang, the militarized approach of the government to the COVID-19 pandemic, the jeepney phaseout that they said is now being realized during the lockdown, and the looming passage of the ‘terror bill’.
The protest that started at 4pm called for the people to hold Duterte accountable for his “poor response and militarist approach” to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Calamba police arrived and interrupted the program and ordered the protesters to disperse otherwise they will be arrested.
During the protesters’ dialogue with police, the police taunted one protester, saying “wala ka namang pinag-aralan” (you are uneducated).
Police Maj. Dexter Domingo, as identified by a witness, approached UPLB Perspective photojournalist James Jericho Bajar and said, “Gusto mo ba kumpiskahin ko ‘yang camera mo?”
[Do you want me to confiscate your camera?]
During the exchange, police also threatened to file charges against Bajar.
Other alternative media correspondents present, such as those from Bulatlat and Manila Today, were also singled out, intimidated, and ordered to put their cameras away even when they identified to be from the media.
“Wala akong paki sa media media,” said Domingo to a Manila Today correspondent.
[I don’t care about media media.]
As the demonstrators tried to negotiate with Domingo, SWAT personnel surrounded them and police forced the protesters to disperse.
ALERT: A Manila Today correspondent and CEGP-Metro Manila member was intimidated and harassed by the Calamba Police personnel as they forced protesters to disperse on June 30 in Calamba, Laguna. Another campus journalist was also threatened by police that his camera will be confiscated and he will be sued for taking photos.#MediaFightBack#EndStateFascism#OustDuterte
Geplaatst door College Editors Guild of the Philippines – Metro Manila op Dinsdag 30 juni 2020
