Protesters stage New York rally vs. Roque’s ILC nomination

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. (PRESIDENTIAL FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — Members of the Bayan-USA and US-based human rights groups held a rally at a New York City restaurant on Friday night (Saturday morning in Manila) to oppose presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s nomination to the International Law Commission (ILC).

The protesters went to the upscale Manhattan eatery Aretsky’s Patroon “to expose the blood on Roque’s hands as the spokesperson for Duterte’s fascist regime and reject his nomination to the UN International Law Commission,” according to a Facebook post from Bayan-USA.

During the rally, the protesters shouted “Roque out of ILC, Roque out of NYC!” and “No Justice, No peace! Stop the killings in the Philippines!”

https://www.facebook.com/bayanusapage/videos/418523589676213/

Roque, in a statement, condemned the action of the protesters.

“We deplore the effort  of militant groups to deliberately cause harm to innocent people in their attempt to disrupt a private reception we were tendering for representatives of several foreign missions in New York,” he said.

“The militant groups were not content to peacefully rally outside the restaurant, they charged upstairs, in the process injuring two elderly waiters, and causing damage to property. The restaurant also informed us that the rallyists ordered food and beverage but did not pay for them,” added Roque.

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