MANILA, Philippines – To keep militant groups from entering its premises, the main gate of the Manila Police District along UN Avenue here was ordered closed and shall remain as it is until after the threat of disruption has already been avoided MPD officials said.
Shut down of the MPD main gate was made Monday, 04 November 2019, ahead by a day before militants staked the place in an effort to press for the release of detained Bayan Muna director Alma Moran.
According to Bayan Muna legal counsel Atty. Kristina Conti, the arrest order on Moran is illegal as the “illegal possession of firearms” case heaped on the BM leader is baseless.
Rather, Conti said, arrest of Moran is part and parcel of the government’s “crackdown on progressive groups and critics.”
Meantime, MPD officials claimed that as long as there is the threat posed by the militants, the main gate shall stay as it is.
For their part, the protesting militants promised not to vacate the place until after Moran is released from her detention cell. (BCUARESMA/IAMIGO/CNS)
