7 Cebu activists hold rally against Anti-Terrorism Bill for 31 seconds

CEBU CITY –– For 31 seconds, seven activists, mostly students of different universities in Cebu, held what they called a “lightning rally” on a vacant space on Gorordo Avenue here on June 12, to call for the scrapping of the controversial Anti-Terrorism Bill.

Wearing face masks and standing two meters apart, they chanted and held placards that read “Ibasura ang Anti-Terror Bill” (Junk the anti-terror bill) on the day the country celebrated its 122nd Independence Day.

Shortly after, they voluntarily dispersed and ran towards Pedro D. Calomarde Street.

“We wanted to do the rally that way. We didn’t have any intention to entice the police to arrest us. What we want is to show up in the streets and then disperse,” said Regletto Imbong, president of the All-UP (University of the Philippines) Academic Employees Union.

He said they were supposed to hold the rally in front of the University of the Philippines Cebu (UP Cebu) but decided to stay away from the venue since several policemen, in full battle gear, were deployed outside the campus as early as 6 a.m.

“We saw that our fight against tyranny might last longer. We cannot afford to gamble and make unnecessary sacrifices, Again, we chose to do the protests near UP for it to be symbolic although we did not force ourselves to go there to avoid unnecessary sacrifices,” Imbong said.

Aside from the All-UP Academic Employees Union, other militant groups that participated in Friday’s lightning rally were from the Movement Against Tyranny and Youth Act Against Tyranny.

Last June 5, seven protesters and a 19-year-old bystander were arrested by policemen while holding a protest rally against the Anti-Terrorism Bill in front of the UP Cebu entrance gate.

They were charged in court for violating the government’s ban on mass gatherings amid the coronavirus disease pandemic.

Brigadier Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro, director of the Central Visayas police, warned June 12 protesters that they too could be arrested if they violate mass gatherings.

But Imbong said policemen were just after those who expressed dissent against government policies.

At least nine supporters of President Duterte held a rally in front of Metro Colon in downtown Cebu City on Friday to voice out support for the anti-terrorism bill but no policemen guarded them.

“The double standard is clear here. If the supporters of the Anti-Terrorism Bill can freely hold a rally without threat or fear of violent dispersal or arrest, then the dissenters should also be extended the same courtesy,” said Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Central Visayas spokesperson Jaime Paglinawan, who was among those arrested by police for holding a rally last week.

Police Colonel Cydric Earl Tamayo, the temporary officer-in-charge of the Cebu City Police Office, said they didn’t have to put policemen in the demonstration held by supporters of the anti-terrorism bill since the activity was completed in just a few minutes.

“There were only less than 10 participants and the rally was peaceful,” he explained.