Gay rights groups join Philippines Independence Day protests

Gay rights groups join Philippines Independence Day protests

Gay rights groups joined protests in the Philippines today as the country marked its 122 Independence Day.

Crowds braved the rain inside a university campus in Quezon City in the Manila area to wave placards criticising the region's police chief.

The LGBT organisation, named Bahagri, which joined the rallies calling for economic, political, and cultural rights for sexual minorities.

Many of those attending the protests were angry at the Major General Debold Sinas holding a recent birthday in which he appeared to ignore coronavirus lockdown rules, while millions have been out of work because of the restrictions.

Protesters brought platters of food, flowers, and dummy cakes along with banners and signboards that calls for free coronavirus mass testing, government accountability, and stopping the Anti-Terror Bill that they believe will curtail their freedom of speech.

Senate President Tito Sotto said he and House Speaker Allan Peter Cayetano had already signed the bill and that it had been received by the office of the President last Tuesday (June 9).

Independence Day is an annual national holiday in the country to celebrate its declaration of freedom from Spain in 1898.