‘Mañanita’ protests face dispersal

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INTERIOR Secretary Eduardo Año yesterday ordered the PNP to disperse today’s Independence Day protests, dubbed “Grand Mañanita,” planned by the Movement against Tyranny in Quezon City.

“Mass gathering is not allowed under (general) community quarantine. If they will hold the rally, they will be dispersed and advised to go home,” Año told a phone interview, referring to the protesters.

Año, a key member of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Mitigation of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), said it would be up to the “judgment call” of policemen on the ground whether to arrest protesters.

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“That depends on our PNP law enforcers if they (protesters) violate a law or if they refuse to heed (appeals to disperse)…That’s what we call judgment call. We’re expecting provocateurs, we will be on the lookout,” he said.

Año said the PNP will exercise “maximum tolerance and calibrated response” in dealing with the protests, which are set to be held at the UP Diliman campus in Quezon City.

Año reiterated appeals to government critics not to go out to the streets to protest critical issues, the latest of which is the enactment of the Anti-Terrorism bill now awaiting the signature of President Duterte.

“They can still protest in other ways, they can protest online. They can make themselves available for interview in the social media. But physical mass gathering, that is not allowed, that’s dangerous,” said Año.

PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa said the PNP will strictly enforce guidelines of the IATF during the protests, particularly the ban on mass gathering.

“On the part of the PNP, we will strictly enforce the IATF protocols. We appeal to the public, especially to organized groups, to avoid mass gatherings as we celebrate this important day,” said Gamboa.

Joint Task Force COVID Shield commander Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said: “As per instruction of our SILG Eduardo Año, protesters will be dispersed and advised to return home. The PNP will also exercise maximum tolerance and calibrated response.”

Eleazar reiterated the call of the PNP chief to protesters “not to engage in mass gathering at this time of pandemic” to avoid being included in the statistics of people infected with COVID-19.

“The threat of coronavirus is still high. If you violate our quarantine rules particularly on social distancing, the probability of getting infected is also high and you may also end up bringing the virus right inside your homes,” said Eleazar.

“So we are reminding them of the risk based on what health experts have been warning us since Day One. There is only one purpose when quarantine rules were crafted, and that is to protect the safety of the Filipinos from this deadly virus,” he said.

Protest organizers have dubbed their planned activity as “Grand Mañanita” to avoid arrest.

The theme was coined in reference to the mañanita (early morning serenade) that marked the 55th birthday of Metro Manila police chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas last month.

The celebration led to the violation of quarantine protocols like social distancing and wearing of face masks. The PNP has filed criminal charges against Sinas and his companions, on top of the ongoing administrative investigation against them.

“They have been saying that the incident involving some police officers in Metro Manila was a mistake, if indeed it was, then why commit the same mistake?” Eleazar asked.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson said the government cannot take away the constitutional rights of individuals to hold protest actions on Independence Day to air their sentiments against the Anti-Terrorism bill, which he sponsored at the Senate.

“The plan of those opposing the Anti-Terrorism Bill to hold protests on Independence Day — regardless of whether they have read and understood the bill — is their basic right, guaranteed under the Bill of Rights. Such basic rights shall remain guaranteed even if and when the Anti-Terrorism bill is signed into law by the President and becomes effective,” Lacson said.

He reminded protesters, though, to observe health protocols that the government has laid down to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

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Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said President Duterte will again not attend this year’s commemoration at the Rizal Park in Manila. He will be represented by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

Roque said the President, who is still in Davao City, will skip the flag-raising and wreath laying ceremony at the Rizal Park. Instead, Duterte’s taped message will be played after the ceremonies “so his speech or message is still part of the program in Luneta.”

Roque said Duterte has decided to be absent from the event so as not to violate current limitations on mass gatherings due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Kapag nandiyan ang Presidente, dadami po ang tao na nais lumapit sa kaniya. Hindi po maiiwasan iyan, kahit saan po tayo mag-celebrate, sa Luneta o sa Davao, iyan po ang problema (If the President is there, there would be many people who would want to get close to him. It cannot be avoided, whether the celebration is held in Luneta or Davao, that’s the problem),” he said.

Mass gatherings, under the current general community quarantine, are limited to only 10 people. Metro Manila is under GCQ.

DEFERRED HOLIDAY PAY

Despite nearly all business establishments already being allowed to resume operations, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said it will continue to allow companies to defer payments of holiday pays for today’s celebration of the 122nd Philippine Independence Day, which is a regular holiday.

Based on Labor Advisory No. 22-2020, the DOLE said private sector employers will still be allowed to delay paying the holiday pay given the prevailing national health emergency.

“In view of the existence of a national emergency arising from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation, employers are allowed to defer payment of the holiday pay on June 12, 2020, until such time that the present emergency situation has been abated and the normal operations of the establishment is in place,” said DOLE.

The national government eased community quarantine protocols in different parts of the country starting June 1, which allowed businesses to resume operations, either partially or fully.

The DOLE reminded employers that if the employee did not work during the regular holiday, he/she shall be paid 100 percent of his/her salary for that day.

For work done during the regular holiday, the employee shall be paid 200 percent of his/her regular salary for the first eight hours, and an additional 30 percent of his/her hourly rate for overtime work.

On the other hand, for work done on a regular holiday that also falls on his/her rest day, the employee shall be paid 230 percent of his/her regular salary for the first eight hours, and an additional 30 percent of his/her hourly rate for overtime work.

FIGHT FOR FREEDOM

Two officials of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) urged the Filipino faithful to continue to strive to maintain the freedom that the country gained back in 1898.

In separate statements, CBCP – Episcopal Commission on the Laity Chairman Bishop Broderick Pabillo and CBCP – Episcopal Commission on Social Action Vice Chairman Bishop Gerardo Alminaza both urged the faithful to not just be contented in recalling the struggle for independence from Spain.

“We celebrate Independence Day with hope that true independence will come upon us, if now, we defend our freedom. So we fight the virus, we fight policies that keep our people poor, and we fight the anti-terror bill that threatens our hard won freedoms,” said Pabillo.

“In today’s context, I invite all to seriously consider how best to express our love for country and honor the precious memory of those, who offered their lives for our freedom and do it,” said Alminaza.

He said the continued fight to maintain freedom does not necessarily mean that the people should go out of their homes amid the prevailing community quarantine.

“I exhort every Filipino citizen to read well the signs of the times and make their voices heard in the various platforms available,” said Alminaza.

Today, the entire nation is celebrating the anniversary of its declaration of independence from Spain after being under its rule for 333 years.

It comes amid the growing opposition to the controversial anti-terror bill, which is already awaiting the signature of President Duterte. — With Raymond Africa, Jocelyn Montemayor and Gerard Naval

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