UP Cebu students, demonstrators arrested during Anti-Terrorism Bill protest

Police took custody of UP Cebu University Student Council Vice Chairperson Bernie Cañedo Jr, Jaime Paglinawan of Bayan Central Visayas, Joahanna Veloso of the National Union of Students of the Philippines , UP Alumnus Al Ingking, Former UP University Student Council Chairperson, Kabataan Partylist Coordinator Dyan Gumanao, Nar Porlas of Anakbayan UP Cebu, and Janry Ubal of Food Not Bombs-Cebu.

A video posted by UP Cebu Tug-ani on its Twitter account (@upcebutugani) showed police in full riot gear dispersing a group protesting the Anti-Terrorism Bill inside the UP Cebu compound. 

The UP Cebu University Student Council condemned the arrest. 

“They (students and protestors) were peacefully protesting when the AFP-PNP along with our own UP Cebu Security Guards dispersed the peaceful protest. State forces came inside the campus to disperse and arrest the protesters in violation of the Sotto-Enrile Accord. Some arresting officers are dressed in civilian clothes,” it said.

The student council said the protesters are detained at Camp Sotero Cabahug without charges.

“Their arrests are manifestations of the effects of the Anti-Terror Bill. Activism is now seen as a crime and an act of terrorism. Once this bill is made into Law, anyone can be wrongfully accused of being a terrorist. The very freedom of the people to express, organize, mobilize and critique the government will be long gone,” the council further said. 

The student council accused state forces of red-tagging UP personnel and students for actively participating in political movements.