Opposition, activists all set for ‘mañanita’ on Independence Day

MANILA, Philippines – Groups opposing administration policies are all set to stage protest movements — whether on the roads or in respective communal ‘mañanitas’ — on Independence Day.

Activist organization Movement Against Tyranny (MAT) and other groups said on Thursday that a Grand Mañanita — in reference to National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas’ birthday serenade — would start at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, along with the University of the Philippines – Diliman’s University Avenue.

The protests would center on the government’s alleged failure to address issues brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, and its prioritization of the Anti-Terrorism Bill despite the rising number of coronavirus infections all over the country.

Aside from UP Diliman, a protest near UP Baguio would also be held, according to MAT.

“Maginaw ba sa Baguio?  Don’t worry. Painitin ang inyong araw by joining the June 12 Independence Day mañanita and other activities to #JunkTerrorBill,” MAT said in a post.

https://www.facebook.com/TheMovementPHL/posts/1538580106305136

https://www.facebook.com/TheMovementPHL/posts/1538635719632908

Senator Francis Pangilinan earlier said that the protesters should bring flowers and food, and say that the protest was a “mañanita” in order for protesters to avoid arrests, to bring to mind how Sinas was able to elude arrest for his own birthday serenade despite that the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) was then in effect.

Opposition bloc Liberal Party (LP), which Pangilinan is a part of, said that they would hold online protests from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.  Aside from the above-mentioned issues, the topic of China’s alleged intrusion in the disputed West Philippine Sea region will also be discussed.

“Maging malikhain sa pagprotesta, at sa paggunita at pagsulong ng ating Kalayaan! Gamitin ang mga hashtag na #JunkTerrorBill, #AtinAngPinas, at #mananita sa inyong mga posts!” LP said in a Facebook post.

https://www.facebook.com/LiberalPartyPhilippines/posts/10163953733320323

Civil society organization People for Accountable Governance and Sustainable Action (Pagasa) meanwhile invited people who cannot join protests in UP to join them for another set of ‘mañanita’ from Friday noon onwards.

Other protests would also commence from UP, like the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) and other lawyers’ lighting caravan, which will move from the university up to the Supreme Court.

https://www.facebook.com/pagasaFB/photos/a.104534881189680/152363429740158/?type=3&theater

Earlier, Joint Task Force COVID Shield commander police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar urged protesters to think twice before joining protests because of the gravity of the local coronavirus transmissions.

However, it was not the first protest held since the COVID-19 pandemic reached the country’s shores, as a previous indignation rally was also held at UP and the Commission on Human Rights office last June 4.

EDV