The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) vehemently condemns the Philippine National Police (PNP) for blocking the labor-led protest in the morning of working-class hero Andres Bonifacio’s 161^st birth anniversary, saying the police violated the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

Video footage shows that the PNP blocked the protest march led by national labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU, May First Movement) along CM Recto Avenue on its way to Mendiola, the traditional venue of protests in Metro Manila.

The protesters asserted their right to hold a protest in Mendiola, but the police stood its ground and even attempted to apprehend some of the protesters, leading to numerous commotions in the march. More than 40 protesters were injured in the commotion during the protest.

When the protesters reached Mendiola and were already holding a program in peace, around five to six police officers arrested Nilo Mortifero, a senior citizen who just suffered a stroke last year and a member of Bayan Muna Partylist, when he was trying to find a toilet in the nearby food establishments.

The police refused protest leaders access to Mortifero until the evening of November 30. It said that Mortifero’s arresting officer will file charges of illegal assembly, direct assault, and disobedience.

In its statement, the police claimed that the rallyists perpetrated “acts of violence” that led to “injuries and the disruption of public order.”

Labor and social activists have always asserted their right to hold protests in Mendiola, a site already historic for protests held there and is close to the presidential palace, Malacañang. The police should stop calling this an act of violence as it was violating human rights when it blocked the protest.

The police also should respect activists’ demand and their tradition of holding peaceful protests in Mendiola. It should stop its unreasonable attempts to always block and harass protests. It should drop the charges against Mortifero and stop filing charges against protesters.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr seeks to rebrand his family name, which is associated with the dictatorship. He has repeatedly professed his adherence to human rights and democracy. He should see to it that the police stop blocking and harassing legitimate and peaceful protests.

We call on the Commission on Human Rights to investigate this incident which clearly shows violations of people’s right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, which the PNP unfortunately continues to justify in its public statements.

#Free Nilo Mortifero!