13 Independence Day protesters nabbed in Cavite

ROSARIO, Cavite – Thirteen members of the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Southern Tagalog (Bayan-ST) were arrested after conducting a “lightning rally” at the historical Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite during the 117th Independence Day commemoration on Friday morning.

Nestor Villanueva, a peasant leader who spoke on behalf of Bayan, said the 13 protesters, among them students from the University of the Philippines-Los Baños, were arrested by the police.

He said those arrested were able to sneak into the compound of the Aguinaldo Shrine, where the main Independence Day program was held around 8 a.m.

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The rest of the rallyists stayed outside the shrine.

The militants began their “lightning rally,” a form of protest but done by a smaller group in a very swift manner, as Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo was starting to deliver her Independence Day speech.

Robredo was the event’s guest of honor and speaker.

Although the protesters briefly disrupted the program, the police were able to whisk them away, allowing the 45-minute celebration to push toward its end.

Villanueva could not immediately give the names of those arrested, who remained at the Kawit police station for charges of illegal assembly.