Anti-riot police block the path of a handful of activists on Osmeña Boulevard in Cebu City. The group planned to welcome President Rodrigo Duterte in his visit to Cebu on Monday afternoon with a protest rally. (Photo by TONEE DESPOJO / Cebu Daily News)
CEBU CITY — At least 100 members of the militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) tried at about 11 a.m. on Monday to get near the gates of Camp Sergio Osmeña, headquarters of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO 7), where President Rodrigo Duterte was scheduled to turn over 20 sports utility vehicles (SUVs) in the afternoon.
But on Osmeña Boulevard, about 50 meters away from the camp, they were blocked by at least 30 police officers clad in full anti-riot gear from Civil Disturbance Management (CDM).
The police formed a human barricade and occupied the entire northbound lane of the boulevard.
The protesters – led by Jaime Paglinawan, Bayan Central Visayas chair – tried to break through the barricade, but the officers refused to let them pass.
Shoving and pushing between the two groups lasted for about 30 minutes.
One female protester screamed at the police officers, telling them not to forget that their salaries came from the taxes of the protesters.
“Kana inyong gisul-ot inyong sweldo ug inyong gipangkuptan gikan na sa among buwis! Unya inyo ming pugngan?” she said.
[Whatever you’re wearing now, your salaries, came from our taxes. Yet, you would not let us through.]
In the end, the police overpowere the protesters, pushing them back to the Government Service Insurance System building, about 20 meters from the police camp.
The group decided to disperse after realizing that there was no way for them to get near Camp Sergio Osmeña.
Paglinawan condemned the move of the police, which he said, should have exercised maximum tolerance.
“Wala man silay igong rason nganong dili mi nila paagihon. Igo rami mo agi padulong sa Fuente Circle. Wala mi gikuptan bisag usa nga makapasakit o makahatag og kagubot,” he said.
[They had no reason not to let us pass. We were just heading to Fuente Osmeña Circle. We were not carrying any weapon.]
But Supt. Arnel Libed, chie of the Regional Public Safety Battalion in Central Visayas, (RPSB 7), said they could not allow the Bayan members to get near PRO 7 headquarters for security reasons. /atm