3 men nabbed in Manila anti-corruption protest

MANILA, Philippines — Police arrested three men claiming to be freelance media workers during yesterday’s anti-corruption protests in Manila.

Apprehended for wearing balaclavas, the three men carried identification cards issued by “The Free Press Collective,” telling police that they were freelance media correspondents funded by the “Kilusang Setyembre Bente Uno.”

One of them is a freshman at the De La Salle University-Dasmariñas, while the others were from Taguig and Tagaytay, the Manila Police District noted.

Aside from wearing balaclavas, the trio – aged 18, 20 and 23 – donned bulletproof vests with a press label.

While his group disagreed with Manila’s ordinance prohibiting face coverings, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan president Renato Reyes told The STAR that they discouraged members from covering their faces when joining rallies for transparency.

Police released the three men after “sternly” warning them about the ordinance.