Chel Diokno slams MPD for arresting Pride March protesters

Human rights lawyer and Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) chairman Chel Diokno slams the Manila Police District (MPD) for having arrested members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual Plus (LGBTQIA+) for their illegal holding a Pride March in Mendiola last June 26.

Seeing the opportunity, the Otso Derecho losing senatorial candidate last election declared and assured the LGBTQIA+ community that his group (FLAG) is one with them.

“Sa LGBTQ Community, kasama nyo kami, at di tayo paaapi,” read Diokno’s latest social media posts.

(screen grabbed from GMA's 24 oras)

The MPD arrested members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual Plus (LGBTQIA+) because what hey said it was an illegal having not secured any permit for such.

“The arrest of those who joined Metro Manila Pride violates the Public Assembly Act, which says: ‘no person can be punished or held criminally liable for participating in or attending an otherwise peaceful assembly’,” he pointed out.

“If the rally had no permit, BP (Batas Pambansa) 880 says they can be peacefully dispersed—but they cannot be arrested indiscriminately just because they were there,” he added.

Since those who attended the rally committed no crime, Diokno stressed “there was no valid reason to arrest them.”

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Report from Politiko

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