3 brought to police station for wearing balaclavas during protest
MANILA, Philippines — Three individuals were brought to the police station after being caught wearing balaclava-style face coverings in Manila on Sunday, November 30.
In an initial report by the Philippine National Police (PNP), the three individuals were also wearing a Kevlar helmet and a vest marked with “media” while roaming around the area. They were nabbed along Kalaw Ave. in Ermita, Manila.
The report also said that the three individuals presented themselves as freelance media correspondents funded by a social media group called “Kilusang Septyember Bente Uno K521.”
“They were informed of the nature of their violation of the City Ordinance No. 9134 (Anti-Balaclava ordinance) in the city of Manila,” the PNP’s initial report read.
The PNP said that the three individuals were later released after documentation and given a stern warning.
The Manila Public Information Office earlier announced the effectivity of the ordinance, which bans the use of balaclavas, non-medical face masks, face-covering hoodies and any headgear that conceals a person’s identity inside commercial or government establishments, as well as when a motorcycle rider is idle or has just dismounted.
Violators will face a P1,000 fine for the first offense and a P3,000 fine for the second. A third or subsequent violation may result in a P5,000 fine, 15 days of imprisonment and possible cancellation of the offender’s driver’s license.
The ordinance serves as a precaution following the riots that erupted during the first anti-corruption rallies on September 21, which saw two fatalities in incidents along Recto Ave. and Mendiola.
As of writing, the police have barricaded Mendiola. Protesters who spoke to Philstar.com and came from Luneta said they were blocked along Recto Ave.
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