Cocpo: Don’t join protests

An official of the Cagayan de Oro Police Office (Cocpo) is advising the public not to join protests, citing ‘security concerns’.

Chief Inspector Mardy Hortillosa, Cocpo spokesperson, said while it is the right of every individual to join protest actions, he said it may be better to attend to other matters such as making a living.

“The Cocpo is only giving this reminder na bisan katungod nila mag-rally but, gi-aware lang namo ang tanan nga mas maayo pa atimanon nila panginabuhian kaysa mag-apil aning mga protest rallies,” Hortillosa said.

In the statement, the Cocpo pointed out that while it respects the basic rights of freedom of speech and the right to peaceful assembly by any group, demonstrators should act peacefully and within the bounds of law.

Cocpo said in the statement that it is also the duty of the police to “protect the rights of other people which may be violated by their actions.”

The Cocpo statement also called on the public to report “any suspicious persons, activities and unusual

occurrences in public or any untoward incidents and crime situations to the nearest police stations or through social media.”

“We are not stopping the public na mojoin sila aning rallies, pero they should be careful na dili sila mabiktima sa pagpanggamit, ug amo pud sila iremind nga dili lang unta sila magbuhat ug dautan nga makaviolate sa katungod sa uban,” Hortillosa said.

But Wildon Barros, Bayan-Northern Mindanao secretary general, called the advisory an ‘indirect policy’ of the police to bar the public from practicing their freedom of expression.

Barros said the militant groups are condemning the advisory saying their groups will not stop from holding rallies, even while martial law is still in place in Mindanao.

“Bisan muingon sila na dili mi nila bawalan, pero paa sa amo, indirect ni siya na pagbawal o pagprohibit sa mga tao na moapil sa mga rally, which is dili dapat, kay katungod ni nato, in fact isa ni sa atong constitutional rights,” he said.

“Bisan martial law, wala kini nagpasabot na muundang kami ug singgit sa mga social issues. Gani, mas dapat magpahigayon karon ug protest rallies kay mas kritikal karon tungod sa martial rule,” Barros said.

The Cocpo statement was released in relation to the militant groups’ Lakbayan ng Pambansang Minorya 2017.

The Lakbayan is a nationwide people’s protest caravan which aims to push for Lumads and Moros’ rights for self determination, to call for a just and lasting peace, and to push for the lifting of martial law in Mindanao.

Now in Manila, the caravan is expected back in Cagayan de Oro City on September 23, traveling from Mania using the same route as going there.

A protest action has been planned to welcome the Lakbayan participants on September 23.