Año, cops uninvited to “Mañanita Party”, warned of gate-crashing
Manila, Philippines — “What the public would witness tomorrow is not a typical type of protest, but a Mañanita party with strict observance of the proper health protocols. We remind the police who are not invited to refrain from gate-crashing,” This was the reaction of the militant fishers group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) on Thursday to the warning of interior secretary Eduardo Año that protesters of the “anti-terrorism bill” in time of the independence day tomorrow would face arrest.
“The audacity of Secretary Año to make such threat. He can’t even arrest a top cop who outrightly transgressed a quarantine protocol through a birthday bash. His ultimatum will not hinder us from commemorating the historic independence day and from upholding our democratic and civil rights against the tyranny,” Fernando Hicap, PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson said in a statement.
“We will not bow to intimidation by any government officials; not especially from Mr. Año who doesn’t have any moral and political ascendancy to impose a protocol which he could not even enforce to his ilks. The Mañanita protest will proceed tomorrow by hook or by crook, and police are uninvited,” ended Hicap. ###
