Tension arose during a rally by the members of the LGBTQI+ community in Mendiola, Manila on Friday after police arrested at least 20 of them during a violent dispersal.
The activists clashed with police during the rally in celebration of Pride Month near Malacañang and to protest against the anti-terror bill.
Manila Police District Chief Police Rolando Miranda confirmed that some protesters had been arrested, but did not provide details.
Meanwhile, as she joined the celebration of Pride Month, Vice President Leni Robredo called on the LGBTQI+ community to continue promoting gender equality.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, she said, many things had changed but gender equality, dignity and freedom had not.
“There will come a time when we will return to all these, we will say that everything was worth the effort, everything was worth the sacrifice, everything was worth the fight. Just push,” Robredo said in a video message in her official Facebook account.
MPD General Assignment and Investigation Section chief Arnold Echalar said at least 20 protesters were arrested by police due to the illegal assembly and violation of the prohibition against mass gatherings amid the quarantine as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
But netizens slammed the arrest of the protesters, claiming the police could not say what laws they had violated.
“Hindi po totoo ‘yan, bawal kasi ang pulis magsalita sa media para ma-prevent ‘yung technicality. Upon the turnover dito, sinabi naman ‘yung circumstance, so mayroong violation ‘yung mga hinuli. Kasi unang-una yung violation nila, illegal assembly, tapos yung RA 11332 nilabag nila dahil under GCQ pa tayo,” Echalar said.
He said the protesters also violated Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code or Disobedience to a Person in Authority. He said the arrests followed after one of the protesters sprayed a policeman with a liquid substance.
ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro condemned the protester’s dispersal and the arrest of some of them.
“We condemn the violent dispersal and illegal arrest of 20 protestors at today’s peaceful but militant Pride March led by Bahaghari despite their practice of social distancing,” Castro said.
“The police even hijacked the vehicles of the protesters and brought them to the Manila Police District.”
Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand Gaite said the arrest and violent dispersal of the protesters had no basis.
“Mahigpit na ipinatupad nila ang health protocols tulad ng pagsusuot ng facemasks at physical distancing sa buong panahon ng paggunita sa Pride Month,” Gaite said.
The GABRIELA Alliance of Filipino Women also condemned the arrest and dispersal of the protesters.
“They were calling for free mass testing, non-discriminatory financial assistance for Filipinos affected by the pandemic and respect for rights of LGBTQI+,” Gabriela said.
Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay said “51 years after the Stonewall uprising against police raids of gay bars in New York City, the Philippine National Police is shamelessly continuing this despicable tradition of macho-fascist police brutality and State repression even in the middle of Pride Month.”
The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas and the Kilusang Mayo Uno similarly condemned the arrests and dispersal.