Student held for heckling Aquino

NAGA CITY, Philippines—President Aquino was momentarily distracted from his Independence Day speech here on Thursday when a college student suddenly yelled out his discontent with the government.

The student, identified by Karapatan-Bicol spokesman Paul Vincent Casilihan as Pio Mijares, 19, was quickly taken away by members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) after he shouted, “Out with the pork barrel king! There is no change in the Philippines!”

Casilihan said Mijares was a psychology student at Ateneo de Naga University.

Mijares was standing 45 meters away from the stage at Plaza Quince Martires where Aquino was speaking.

The President continued with his speech after PSG officers had taken Mijares away.

Casilihan said Mijares was taken to the Naga City Police Office for questioning.

He said Mijares was not harmed, but the student may be facing charges of alarm and scandal.

SPO1 Toby Bongon, a spokesma for the city police, said Mijares would be held for 12 hours, or up to 9 p.m. The student would be released, but charged, he said.

Casilihan said his group would provide legal assistance to Mijares.

Some 500 members of the rights group Karapatan-Bicol and the militant Kilusan ng Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, Kilusang Mayo Uno and other allied groups staged a rally at the city center, but were prevented from getting close to the site where the President was presiding over Independence Day rites.