By Shayne Elizabeth T. Flores

After being embroiled in a violent mobilization dispersal by the police, activist and Sining Lila member Raja Lynn Bausing maintained the Filipino masses’ right to dissent by filing a complaint affidavit against the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) at the Commission on Human Rights last September 9.

Alongside progressive groups and flood victims, Bausing participated in a demonstration condemning the corruption in flood control projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways, in front of the House of Representatives last September 5.

Several protesters initiated mudslinging and paint bombing at the latter part of the mob, to which the QCPD responded by chasing and trying to apprehend rallyists.

According to the Sining Lila member, she was attempting to mediate the clash between the rallyists and the authorities when she was forcefully dragged away by a policeman dressed as a civilian.

“Doon na po ako dinrag ng isang police officer na naka-civilian sa pamamagitan ng pagsasakal sa aking leeg with both of his arms. Tapos kinaladkad niya ako sa pavement. And sure tayo na sila ay most likely na police officer dahil sila ay nakahanay kasama ng mga police officer and doon niya din ako ambang dalhin (A police officer in civilian clothes dragged me across the pavement by strangling my neck with both of his arms. We are sure that he is most likely a police officer because he was lined up with the police and he also intended to take me to them),” she recounted in an online interview with FEU Advocate.

Bausing being dragged across the pavement by an alleged police officer donning civilian attire.

Bausing claimed that the police officer only let go of her after local residents near the protest reprimanded him for harshly treating a woman.

She added that it was her personal initiative to file a case against the QCPD, as she believes that the people’s right to dissent against corruption should not be restrained by police harassment.

As a trans woman, Bausing also cited the Magna Carta for Women and Quezon City’s Gender-Fair Ordinance as additional grounds for the complaint.

“Kasi kailangan may equal na grounds ang mga queer people para ihayag ‘yung kanilang mga interes, partikular sa sinasabi ko ‘yung interes natin na ipaglaban ‘yung ating kahingian na gamitin ang pondo ng bayan para sa wasto at hindi para patabain ‘yung bulsa ng mga nangungurakot (Queer people need to have equal grounds to express their interests, specifically in our demand to use public funds for the right purpose, not to fatten the pockets of corrupt officials),” she emphasized.

Moreover, Bausing asserted how the incident implied the authorities' intention to uphold the status quo by protecting the rich over the interests of the Filipino people.

She also condemned police officers’ supposed practice of disguising themselves as civilians to instigate violence, adding that it is one of the issues being explored in the complaint.

“Halatang planado talaga nila na magkaroon ng violence kasi pinoprotektahan niya na hindi malaman ‘yung kaniyang lisensiya, ‘yung kaniyang nameplate… ‘Yung pulis ay humahanap ng mga matatalinong paraan para mag-incite ng violence dun sa hanay ng mga raliyista at ‘yun ay alam natin, hindi legal kaya isa rin siya sa mga ine-explore natin sa mga complaint na ating fina-file (It is obvious that they planned to resort to violence because he was concealing his license and nameplate. They are really looking for ways to incite violence among the rallyists, and we know that it is not legal so we are also exploring that in the complaint),” the activist explained.

While she was able to get through the commotion, Bausing remains concerned for her safety now that she has drawn the attention of the police, as well as the safety of other rallyists in future mobilizations.

The Sining Lila member noted that this is not an isolated case, but rather a recurring incident as seen in the recent Navotas rally, where the police similarly clashed with protesters.

Despite this, Bausing emphasized that police countermeasures would not instill fear nor deter the Filipino masses from protesting, but would only motivate them to gather together to fight for their collective interests. 

“Napapatunayan natin sa practice na kapag mas lalong tumataas ‘yung pasismo na binibigay ng estado ay lalo rin tumataas ‘yung kagustuhan ng mga Pilipino na bumalikwas mula sa pagsasamantala (We have proven in practice that the more the state upholds fascism, the more the Filipinos’ desire to turn away from exploitation),” she stated.

Furthermore, Bausing underlined Filipinos’ poor living conditions such as poverty, hunger, and flood devastation as the main triggers for their dissent.

As such, she believes that the mobilizations would not stop until the government addresses the roots of the masses’ struggles.

“Kahit magtagumpay man na panandalian silang patahimikin, kung andiyan pa rin ‘yung kondisyon na lumilikha ng galit ng Pilipino, uusbong at uusbong ang kagustuhan ng Pilipino na baguhin ang sistema ng lipunan para magsilbi ito sa kanilang interes (Even if the state is able to temporarily silence them, if adverse conditions remain, Filipinos’ desire to change the system will continue to persist),” the Sinang Lila member remarked.

Thus, she encouraged Filipinos to mobilize and participate in the call for a just society.

Bausing was supported by various progressive organizations in filing the case, such as Gabriela Women’s Party, Gabriela Youth, Bahaghari, and Surian ng Sining.

In a press conference last September 8, QCPD chief Police Colonel Randy Glenn Silvio stated that they will investigate the identity of the alleged officer in civilian attire.

Meanwhile, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla vowed that the police will manage rallies with maximum tolerance last September 11.

(Photo by Melvin James Urubio/FEU Advocate; Photo courtesy of Jordan Joaquin/Pinoy Weekly)