Police intimidate anti-EJK protesters at Ateneo

MANILA, Philippines — Two policemen riding a police car with an unlicensed plate visited protesters gathered at Gate 2.5 of the Ateneo de Manila University Thursday night.

The Guidon, the official student publication of Ateneo, reported that the policemen asked for the names of the leaders of the mobilization.

Around 40 to 50 people attended the mobilization, calling for unity against extrajudicial killings and the so-called war on drugs in light of the death of Grade 11 student Kian Loyd delos Santos.

The attendees have been advised to enter school premises after the policemen arrived.

Although the mobilization has ended, the police car remains parked outside Gate 2.5. pic.twitter.com/Cl1PtnJY4c

— The GUIDON (@TheGUIDON) August 24, 2017

The policemen arrived after a moment of silence and a candle lighting ceremony at 8:24 p.m., the exact time of Delos Santos' death, The Guidon reported.

Ateneo student Lanz Espacio said on Twitter that the police asked them what they were protesting and ordered them to list their names.

A few minutes after 8:24 pm. Sa tapat ito ng Ateneo, nasa pribadong lote pa kami.

Paano pa kaya sa mga maralitang komunidad? pic.twitter.com/h5lwcfwRwM

— Lanz Espacio (@lanzespacio) August 24, 2017

The Union of Students for the Advancement of Democracy (USAD) and Kabataan Partylist Katipunan have released statements condemning the incident.

"Masidhi naming kinukundena ang mga pagtatangkang takutin at ipagkait sa taumbayan ang kanilang karapatang magprotesta at ipabatid ang kanilang mga hinanaing," USAD Ateneo said.

"Make no mistake: this was a thinly-veiled attack on students’ and peoples’ democratic rights to assemble and protest, a test of the waters on how effectively and quickly the PNP can quash dissent and discontent with the government’s failed wars against its people," Kabataan Partylist Katipunan said.

The university is yet to release an official statement following the incident. — Patricia Lourdes Viray