By JOSEPH PEDRAJAS
Several residents in Quezon City affected by the Luzon lockdown were arrested after they gathered on EDSA to ask for food yesterday.
In a video uploaded by DZMM on its social media account, police in fatigue uniform were seen running after dozens of people, pinning down and handcuffed those they were able to catch.
According to an initial report from the Quezon City Police District, at least 14 men and six women were arrested by members of its various units “for staging a rally without any permit being issued by proper authorities” around 11 a.m.
“After one hour of negotiation, they refused to (go) home and insisted their demand of food supplies (from) LGU. Despite several plea of the negotiating team, they insisted to stay and resisted that resulted in their arrest,” a police report from the QCPD Masambong police station added.
Police said those arrested were part of some 150 residents of Sitio San Roque in Barangay Pag-asa who held protest on EDSA “to air their demand” for provisions from the local government.
“Pagkain Kailangan Namin,” one of the message written on a paper said. “Ibigay ninyo ang para sa amin,” another message added.
According to one resident interviewed by DZMM, they have been waiting for several days for relief goods from the barangay officials, but they have not received any yet.
“Saan kami kukuha ng pagkain ngayon kung hinuli n’yo mga asawa namin? Sila na lang pag-asa namin na magbigay ng pagkain samin, na maghagilap para sa pamilya namin…,” another resident told police.
