tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14974164.post6925822671807263449..comments2023-10-20T21:46:49.945+08:00Comments on Philippine Commentary: On Freedom of Assembly and the Religious ServicesDeany Bocobohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01443168826029321831noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14974164.post-13269200153943218332010-11-23T18:37:36.692+08:002010-11-23T18:37:36.692+08:00Yap, that entire section of the Code where 133 is ...Yap, that entire section of the Code where 133 is (Section One) is actually prohibitions against govt officials and employees, which is only right because people need protection against govt. 133 is all the more anomalous because up to 132, it was all about govt employees.Jegohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11806891595153451306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14974164.post-38313500960688770792010-11-23T14:33:19.543+08:002010-11-23T14:33:19.543+08:00Actually the Law is strange. If Carlos Celdran wer...Actually the Law is strange. If Carlos Celdran were a public official or a govt employee, or if any of the latest Manila Cathedral demonstrators are, they would have committed a crime under Art. 132 of the RPC. It's a strange crime because it can ONLY be committed by a govt employee or official. Why do you think that might be? It sort of implies that it's okay for civilians to do it as long as they don't break any other law. Suppose a Sacristan interrupts a Mass to expose the Priest as his tormentor?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14974164.post-19641636052975332042010-11-21T07:59:29.794+08:002010-11-21T07:59:29.794+08:00Not only do they have a right, they have a duty to...Not only do they have a right, they have a duty to prevent unwanted elements from crashing their assembly. The cops can't do it. In fact the cops won't do it and even take an active part in disassembling a peaceful assembly if the needs of the State so dictate. (The cops are agents of the State, not agents of the people.)<br /><br />You raise an interesting point re the case of tour guide Carlos Celdran. Clearly he disrupted a peaceful assembly, but he did so without doing harm to person or property. He was alone. He was unarmed. He just offended people. The assembled had a right to remove him physically from the assembly, but in my opinion, the State is acting immorally if it pursues a case wherein Celdran's freedom is suspended for up to 2 and a half years for merely offending people. The law should be changed. If I were king I'd strike the jail time from the Code, and replace it with a fine, or equivalent community service if unable to pay.Jegohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11806891595153451306noreply@blogger.com