42 activists arrested in Iloilo during protest for slain coordinator

Iloilo police arrested 42 activists during a protest commemorating the murder of Jory Porquia, a Bayan Muna Iloilo coordinator, on May 1, 2020, after the group attempted to hold an indignation protest caravan in Jaro Plaza.

Porquia was shot nine times by unidentified armed men in his rented home in Arevalo, Iloilo City, on April 30, 2020.

The activists stated they initially did not plan to hold a Labor Day protest but decided to proceed to condemn Porquia's assassination.

Bayan Panay and its allied organizations claimed they sought police permission to proceed to Arevalo to lay a wreath and light candles for Porquia, but were denied.

Police cited enhanced community quarantine rules to prevent the spread of the coronavirus as the reason for the arrests.

The activists were about to disperse when some of their leaders were handcuffed and arrested.

The arrested individuals included Elmer Forro of Bayan Muna Panay, Lucy Francisco of Gabriela Panay, Edgar Salarda of Piston Panay, Bryan Bosque of Anakbayan Panay, Crimson Labinghisa of Kabataan Panay, Fr. Marco Sulayao of Aglipayan Church, and Atty. Angelo Marlo Guillen.

While the coronavirus pandemic has led to strict lockdown measures, various labor groups in the Philippines found creative ways to commemorate Labor Day, such as noise barrages and online protests.