MANILA, Philippines — Police authorities confiscated protest materials from a church-goer while Mass was being held at the Quiapo Church on Monday.
In a video uploaded on Twitter, two policemen clad in fatigue uniform could be seen forcefully taking a box of protest materials and some placards from some individuals while Mass was ongoing.
“Ang sasahol! Sa gitna ng banal na misa, ito ang mga uniformed personnel, kinukuha ang gamit ng isang kasamahan namin! Bastusan na ‘to!” netizen RJ Naguit wrote on his Twitter post.
(They are the worst! In the middle of a holy Mass, these uniformed personnel are taking our companion’s things! So disrespectful!)
Ang sasahol! Sa gitna ng banal na misa eto ang mga uniformed personnel kinukuha ang gamit ng isang kasamahan namin! Bastusan na to! pic.twitter.com/CnTYFLYGxY
— RJ Naguit 🌹 (@raymondnaguit) July 27, 2020
Sa loob ng simbahan, sa gitna ng misa, pilit na kunin ng mga barubal na pulis na ito ang gamit ng isang nananahimik na nanalangin. Bastusang martial law na nga. pic.twitter.com/AcvwHlRDsM
— Bart Guingona (@guingonabart) July 27, 2020
In response to the post, Senator Risa Hontiveros said she talked to the police officers after the mass, explaining that no rally occurred during mass.
“Hindi katanggap-tanggap ang karahasan na ito, lalo na sa gitna ng sakramento,” she said.
(This harassment is not acceptable, especially during the middle of a sacrament.)
“Pati ang mga dasal ng mga tao sa loob ng simbahan, patatahimikin?” Hontiveros added.
(They want to silence even the prayers inside the church?)