Four leaders and two members of traditional jeepney groups protesting in front of L’ Fisher Hotel at Lacson Street in Bacolod City were arrested Wednesday morning, Sept. 18, after they refused to disperse.
The protestors who caused traffic to halt refused to leave despite repeated requests from the police and turned rowdy as firefighters started hosing them, PCol. Joeresty Coronica, Bacolod police director, said.
They hurled stones at the police injuring two and damaged a firetruck, he said.
They staged the protest as a Visayas Public Transport Modernization Program Summit and the Philippine Commercial Vehicle Show was being held in the hotel.
Arrested were Rudy Catedral – Bacolod Alliance of Commuters, Operators and Drivers (BACOD) president, Lilian Sembrano – Kabacod Negros Transport Coalition (KNETCO) president, Rodolfo Gardose – United Negros Drivers and Operators Center president, Eric Bindoy – UNDOC secretary general, and members Shalimar Saleut and Melchor Umangayon.
The police will definitely be filing cases against the six arrested because they have long been given leeway, Coronica said, pointing out that they previously entered the lobby of the Bacolod City Government Center to stage a protest.
“I already gave a warning that the freedom of expression that they are insisting on is not absolute, there are limitations,” he said.
“We will not take this incident lightly,” Coronica said.
Batasang Pambansa 880, an act ensuring the free exercise by the people of their right to peaceably assemble, states that they cannot stage protests or rallies in areas that are not designated as freedom parks unless they secure a permit, he said.
Their leaders also attempted to enter the hotel and caused alarm and scandal on private property , he added.
The four leaders will face charges for violation of BP 880 for having no permit, Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code for unjustifiable disobedience of lawful orders of persons in authority or their agents, and Republic Act 4136 for obstructing traffic and endangering the public, Coronica said.
Their two members will be charged for stoning two policemen who were injured, he added.
“They came prepared, they had stones with them so they had bad intentions”, Coronica said.
The six are detained at Police Station 2, he said.*