Mañanita Protest held vs “anti-terrorism” bill
Quezon City, Philippines — “We fight for our right to rally. Not even a threat from the police will stop us to gather in streets and air our sentiment against the repressive measures of the government such as the anti-terrorism bill,” According to the militant fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) on Friday, who joined various activist groups in an independence day protest dubbed as “Mañanita Protest” versus the roundly objected “anti-terrorism bill”.
Strictly observing proper health precautions such as physical distancing and wearing of personal protection equipment (PPE), the fishers and peasant groups’ thematic protest led by Anakpawis Party-list depicted the “dishonorable and violative birthday bash” of National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Debold Sinas.
“Unlike Chief Sinas’ birthday bash along with dozens of party cops, we did not violate any health protocols. This proves that we can still exercise and assert our democratic rights without compromising the health safety of each other,” Fernando Hicap, PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson said during the protest.
PAMALAKAYA earlier chided interior secretary Eduardo Año for threatening protesters with arrest, saying the former military man now heading a civilian agency “has no moral ascendancy to impose a law which he can’t even enforce to high-ranking police and government officials.”
“Secretary Año weaponizing a law against a peaceful protest is exactly the reason why we are opposing the anti-terrorism bill; it aims to smash the dissenters, not quash the terrorism. We vow to heighten opposition against this repressive measure and resist the tyrannical rule of its chief implementer President Duterte,” ended Hicap. ###
Pamalakaya National Chairperson Fernando “Ka Pando” Hicap at the #BawiinAngKalayaan protest at the UP campus in Quezon City on Araw ng Kalayaan. 
Artist Mae “Juana Change” Paner at the #BawiinAngKalayaan protest at the UP campus in Quezon City on Araw ng Kalayaan. 
Pamalakaya National Chairperson Fernando “Ka Pando” Hicap at the #BawiinAngKalayaan protest at the UP campus in Quezon City on Araw ng Kalayaan. 
Physical distancing was observed at the #BawiinAngKalayaan protest at the UP campus in Quezon City on Araw ng Kalayaan. 
Physical distancing was observed at the #BawiinAngKalayaan protest at the UP campus in Quezon City on Araw ng Kalayaan. 
Physical distancing was observed at the #BawiinAngKalayaan protest at the UP campus in Quezon City on Araw ng Kalayaan. 
Fisherfolk community in Batangas joins #BawiinAngKalayaan #JunkTerrorBill protest.
