Militants assail youth leader’s arrest at SP session
A leader of a militant youth organization was arrested after shouting at the session of the Iloilo City Council Wednesday afternoon.
James Saguino, Anakbayan regional chairperson for Panay, is facing charges for disturbance of proceedings which has a penalty of arrest and fine from P200 to P1,000.
Before his arrest, Saguino’s group was holding a protest against the coal-fired power plant of the Panay Energy Development Corp., in front of the Iloilo Terminal Market where the Iloilo City Council holds office.
Dionisio Duco, city council sergeant-at-arms, said he talked to the group to hold their protest peacefully so they will not disrupt the session.
Duco said he also allowed the protestors, including Saguino, to observe the proceedings with a promise to keep silent.
However, when the issue on the coal-fired power plant was discussed, they stood up, raising placards containing their anti-coal plant sentiments.
Duco then told the group to leave the session hall. But as they were leaving, Saguino shouted his opposition.
Although the proceedings continued, several councilors claimed they were insulted by what happened.
“It’s as if they don’t respect the councilors and vice mayor,” Councilor Ely Estante said.
Saguino was brought to Police Station 1 but he was released several hours later after posting a P500 bailbond.
Members of Anakbayan also held a vigil in front of the police station to protest Saguino’s arrest.
‘Nothing Wrong’
For Saguino, he saw nothing wrong with what he did.
He said the Anakbayan could not tolerate the City Council paying no attention to the ill-effects of the coal-fired power plant.
“We don’t see anything wrong with what we did. We were just expressing what we feel,” Sanguino said.
Meanwhile, Lean Porquia of the League of Filipino Students said Saguino will file illegal detention and illegal search charges against Duco.
Porquia said Saguino was already at the door when he was arrested.
“In actuality, when he shouted, the session went on. It was not disrupted. So what Major Duco did was a citizen’s arrest,” he said.
Porquia said he will file an illegal search charge against Duco for searching his bag at the police station. “(He was) insinuating that I was keeping something inside it.”
The group’s protest was related to the complaints of foul odor following the coal-fired power plant’s test firing and steam blowing last month.*
