Cebu protesters charged in court

CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines — The charges against the seven protesters and a 19-year-old bystander have been elevated to a local court on Monday after the prosecutor’s office found enough basis to hold them liable for holding a rally against the antiterrorism bill outside the University of the Philippines Cebu campus last June 5.

The Cebu City police charged them with violating the Public Assembly Act of 1985, the Law on Reporting of Communicable Diseases, and resistance and disobedience to persons in authority. Cebu City prosecutor Liceria Lofranco-Rabillas has ordered the filing of cases against them at the Municipal Trial Court in Cities.

—Nestle Semilla and Ador Vincent Mayol