MANILA, Philippines — Protesters could not be silenced by the coronavirus pandemic or warnings from authorities on possible arrest as they held protest rallies on the celebration of the Philippine’s 122nd Independence Day. ADVERTISEMENTSinas’ mañanita which was attended by dozens of police officers, violated the ban on mass gatherings as ordered by quarantine protocols. On the eve of the Independence Day protests, the Department of Justice warned that physical protest rallies are “temporarily banned” during the pandemic because of public health concerns. ADVERTISEMENT“Violations may give rise to penal sanctions under existing public health laws, not under criminal laws. (Eduardo) Año said, there are safer ways to express one’s protest during this period of a public health emergency,” he added.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer June 12, 2020 03:00 UTC