MANILA, Philippines — Eighteen people, including three students of the University of the Philippines (UP), were arrested for staging a Labor Day protest in Quezon City on Friday afternoon, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said.
An initial report of QCPD identified the students as Jandeil Roderos, 23, Jim Clay Bagano, 20, and Joshua, 22.
Police officers also arrested Antonio Narciso III, 23, Alfie Arabe, 33, Ademar Quilo, 39, Lino Boquiran, 36, Dionisio Orcales, 52, Felicisimo Burda, 56, Joel Guevarra, 29, Joey Entroliso, 37, Christopher Radam, 29, Joey Jayme, 25, Alvin Jimenez, 25, Berdan Quinilitan Jr., 27, Ernesto Silay Jr., 31, Dario Arcenal, 35, and Rodrigo Solermo, 27.
Initial police investigation showed that the police community precinct No. 4 and Kamuning police station responded to a call about an ongoing protest along Maparaan corner Kalayaan Avenue at 2:34 p.m.
Police officers then caught the suspects holding tarpaulins while airing their grievances: “Ayuda para sa lahat dapat, walang pinipili. (Assistance for all)” and “Ayuda sa jeepney drivers ibigay na (Give assistance for jeepney drivers).”
Law enforcers then apprehended the suspects and confiscated the tarpaulins.
Suspects are now under the custody of the QCPD detention center while complaints for violation of Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases of Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, Bayanihan to Heal as One Act and Public Assembly Act of 1985 are being readied against them.
QCPD’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit are conducting further investigation into the arrest of the suspects.