REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila FIFTEENTH CONGRESS Second Regular Session House Resolution No.

1996

Introduced by Kabataan Partylist Representative RAYMOND V. PALATINO, Bayan Muna Partylist Representatives TEDDY A. CASINO and NERI J. COLMENARES, Anakpawis Partylist Representative RAFAEL "KA PAENG" V. MARIANO, Gabriela Women's Party Representatives LUZ C. ILAGAN and EMMI A. DE JESUS, and ACT Teachers Partylist Representative ANTONIO L. TINIO

A RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE VIOLENT DISPERSAL OF PROTESTERS AT MENDIOLA LAST DECEMBER 6 and 7, 2011 SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE THE CELEBRATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY, AND CONDEMNING THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE IN BRANDING LEGITIMATE ACTS OF PROTEST AS SEDITION WHEREAS, the Philippine Constitution of 1987 guarantees freedom of speech and right to peaceably assemble. Article III, Section 4 states: "No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances"; WHEREAS, December 10 is International Human Rights Day, the commemoration of the adoption and proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights where it is stated in Article 19: "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression," and Article 20: "(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association,"; WHEREAS, last December 6, 2011, four days before the commemoration of Intemation Human Rights Day, thousands of people from various sectors launched the first of the five-day series of camp-out protest that will feature concerts, a fashion show and festive activities aimed at creating public awareness on insufficient funds for basic services, poverty, worsening human rights violations, unemployment and other social injustices; WHEREAS, as the protesters marched to Mendiola they were refused access and watercannoned by the police composed of four Philippine National Police (PNP) arresting teams, the region 1 police, and three National Capital Region (NCR) police districts; WHEREAS, last December 7, 2011, the second day of the camp-out protest, when protesters again marched to Mendiola and asserted their right to assemble at the said area, they

were again refused access and brutally dispersed by hundreds of not police officers of the Manila Police District (MPD) under the command of P/Supt. Rolando Tumalad, P/Supt. Ricardo Bemal armed with shields, truncheons and water cannons; WHEREAS, at least 50 protesters were injured, 7 taken to the hospital after sustaining cuts and bruises from the brutal assault of the forces of the Manila Police District; WHEREAS, Superintendent James Afalla of the Manila Police District Station 3, echoing the justification of the police for the brutality of the actions of its forces against the protesters, irresponsibly stated in an interview that the protest rally, a legitimate action to collectively express grievances, was "inciting to sedition"; WHEREAS, the Manila Police District charged 10 protesters of Sedition based on Article 139 of the Revised Penal Code. The arrested protesters were also charged for alleged violation of Article 151 (Resistance and Disobedience to a Person in Authority or the Agents of such person); Article 153 (Tumults and other Disturbances of Public Order); BP 880 (Public Assembly Act of 1985); Malicious Mischief and Physical Injury; WHEREAS, the protest was an exercise of constitutional right to freedom of expression and assembly and the protesters were all unarmed to warrant violent dispersal by the police; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, that the House of Representatives strongly condemn the violent dispersal of protesters last December 6 and 7, 2011 at Mendiola days before the celebration of International Human Rights Day; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, that the House of Representatives condemn the Philippine National Police-Manila Police District and its irresponsible branding of legitimate acts of protest as sedition.

Adopted, HON. RA^I(MOND V. PALATINO Representative, Kabataan Partylist

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HON. TEDDY A. CASINO Representative, Bayan Muna Partylist

HON. - FAEL'KA PAENG' V. MARIANO Representative, Anakpawis Partylist

HON. LUZ C. ILAGAN Representative, Gabriela Women's Party

HON. NERI J. COLMENARES Representative, Bayan Muna Partylist

HON. ANTONIO L. TINIO Representative, ACT Teachers Partylist 2

HON. EMMI A. DE + SUS Representative, Gabriela Women's Party