Aquino heckler in Naga charged

President Benigno S. Aquino III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

NAGA CITY, Philippines—Student activist Pio Emmanuel Mijares, whose sudden loud outburst distracted President Aquino in the middle of his Independence Day speech here last Thursday, was formally charged at the Naga City Prosecutor’s Office.

Documents obtained from the Municipal Trial Court in Cities, Fifth Regional Trial Court, showed that Mijares was charged with “tumults and other disturbances of public order” or essentially creating “alarm and public scandal.”

Mijares, a 19-year-old psychology student of Ateneo de Naga University, was arrested by members of the Presidential Security Group after shouting “There is no change in the Aquino administration!” while waving banners, bearing the words “Oust P-Noy and Free Benito Tiamzon and all political prisoners and scrap all forms pork! DAP, Ibasura,” during the Independence Day rites at the Plaza Quince Martires here.

The student activist was also charged with “assault against an agent of person of authority” for resisting arrest and damaging the uniform of arresting officer PO1 George Estocado.

Paul Vincent Casilihan, Karapatan Bicol spokesperson, said Mijares was to be released on Friday afternoon from his detention cell at the Naga City Police Office after posting bail amounting to P8,000.

Some 20 Ateneo de Naga University students awaiting Pio’s release gathered outside the Naga police station on Friday.

Jovy Mijares, uncle and guardian of Pio, said the experience of his nephew “will shape him and the people around him.”

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