The Human Rights Advocates Negros condemned Bacolod Police Director Col. Joeresty Coronica for threatening to disperse the peaceful protest of traditional public utility vehicles (PUV) yesterday, according to a press release from HRAN.
Coronica’s absurd reasons that the protesters are blocking routes inside the gutter of the NGC replica, or that rallyists need a permit to use the grounds of public plaza which is declared freedom park, is violative of the right to peaceful assembly and redress of grievances, it said.
We are now in a state of dictatorial rule in Bacolod under Albee Benitez. It is a very dangerous situation where supposedly democracy exists, they added.
The group urged the traditional PUV operators and drivers to stand to fight for our rights.
Repression breeds resistance. Benitez and his henchman should always remember this, the statement concluded.*
