“Partygoers” hold Independence Day “Grand Mañanita” protest

The event held at the University of the Philippines Diliman combined protest action with a festive theme, with the participants calling themselves partygoers.

The event was named Grand Mañanita after the widely criticized birthday celebration of National Capital Region Police Chief Debold Sinas that was held while Metro Manila was under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).  

It also followed Senator Francis Pangilinan’s earlier advice to protesters to call their rallies Mañanitas. Pangilinan met with other opposition leaders online on Thursday night to discuss the conduct of the protest. 

The protests focused on the government’s alleged failures and misplaced priorities during the COVID-19 pandemic: the arrest of six members of PISTON (Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide) by the Northern Police District on June 2: the arrest of seven activists in UP Cebu: and the recently passed Anti-Terror bill.

Among the groups that attended the Grand Mañanita are the Congress of Teachers/Educators for Nationalism and Democracy, Movement against Tyranny (MAT), Gabriela Youth, Anakbayan, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Metro Manila, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura, Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP), Sama-samang artista para sa Kilusang Agraryo, College Editors Guild of the Philippines and Anakpawis party-list.

The protesters aired the event on social media. Participants were also told to wear black and any Mañanita-related outfit. 

Activists followed health protocols, including the use of facemasks and imposition of social distancing while rallying.

KMP chairperson Danilo Ramos said they are safeguarding the remaining democratic rights and civil liberties of Filipinos.

“The government must stop using the coronavirus and the pandemic situation as an excuse to curtail people’s rights and abuse the rule of law,” Ramos said.

The Department of Justice and the Philippine National Police asked the public yesterday to avoid mass gatherings in accordance with the guidelines set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Diseases.