President Rodrigo Duterte in his speech during the oath-taking ceremony of the newly-elected Punong Barangays of Central Luzon at the ASEAN Convention Center in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga on June 12, 2018. (Malacañang photo)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The irony was not lost to campus journalists when the government arrested and detained a young activist during the Independence Day celebration on Tuesday.
The College Editors Guild of the Philippines in a statement released on Wednesday condemned the arrest of 20-year old activist Francis Couichie Rafael who allegedly violated Article 153 of the Revised Penal Code.
Rafael was among the protesters during the Independence Day rites in Kawit, Cavite on Tuesday, June 12, and who purportedly shouted “Huwad na Kalayaan” or fake freedom while Duterte was delivering his speech.
“If there is someone who has caused a tumultuous disturbance of public order, it is the Duterte regime – the leading purveyor of deceit, corruption, roguery, and terrorism,” said Jose Mari Callueng, national president of CEGP.
Rafael was said to have caused tumults and other disturbance of public orders, liable with an imprisonment of 1 to 6 months and a fine of P1,000.
“There is no actual democracy in the country. The Filipino people fight for their democratic rights every day to live: farmers struggle for land, workers struggle for a living wage, students fight for a genuine free education, and several more,” the CEGP statement emphasized.
The group also condemned “the continuing fascist attacks” of the Duterte government against the Filipino people. (davaotoday.com)
