DFA says solidarity rally in Manila to support HK demonstrators a ‘freedom of expression’

The Philippine government may have distanced itself from the ongoing civil unrest in Hong Kong, but said it cannot prevent Filipino groups or individuals from staging demonstrations to express support for Hong Kong citizens demanding full electoral rights from China.

 

Filipinos, led by civil society groups, held a rally in front of the Chinese consulate in Makati City Thursday to show solidarity with the tens of thousands of Hong Kong nationals seeking “true universal suffrage” from mainland China – a Philippine rival in the disputed resource-rich South China Sea territories.

 

“We can’t stop them,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose told a press briefing.

 

"Their freedoms," Jose explained, “are guaranteed by the Constitution.”

 

“(They have the) freedom to express, freedom to assemble as long as their activities are peaceful and does not result in damage to property or loss of lives,” he said.

 

He also stressed that such actions are “individual initiatives” and not sanctioned by the Philippine government.

 

“It is not a government policy,” Jose said. “Of course we are not commenting on what’s happening in Hong Kong so as not to be misconstrued as interfering in the internal affairs of China and Hong Kong.”

 

Hong Kong, a British colony for 150 years until it was handed back to China in 1997, is besieged by a civil disobedience campaign that began on Sept. 28 following China’s decision to allow only Beijing-approved candidates to participate in the city’s elections for chief executive in 2017.

 

Pinoys joining protests in HK

 

Several Filipinos were sighted partaking in the pro-democracy actions in Hong Kong by Philippine consulate officials.

 

Jose warned of stiff penalties, including imprisonment, for foreigners in Hong Kong who will be caught participating in the rallies.

 

However, Jose admitted that it is “humanly impossible” for the Philippine consulate to stop Filipinos “from doing what they want to do.”

 

Amid recent clashes between police and demonstrators, Jose said there is no report of any Filipino injured in the protest action.

 

 “We reiterate our advice to Filipinos in Hong Kong to avoid going to these places for their own safety and protection. We are just after their welfare and safety,” Jose said. —KG, GMA News