THE ALLIANCE  of Concerned Teachers on Friday hit the Manila Police District for its “high-handed” acts in stopping teachers who held a rally in front of the Department of Budget and Management office.

The police cut short the program and confiscated materials from the teachers. Police officers cited the prohibition on rallies under the quarantine protocols as justification for their actions.

The teachers held the rally to call for a salary hike and the release of their benefits.

“Lahat na lang ba talaga ng mabubuting pagsisikap ng mamamayan para makakuha ng alwan sa gitna ng krisis ay aatakihin ng kapulisan? Earlier, they harassed community quarantines, now they interfere with our constitutional right to free speech and petition the government for the redress of our grievances,” Louie Zabala, ACT NCR Union executive vice president, said.

“The government is exploiting the quarantine to prevent us from airing our legitimate demands. They cannot lock down our rights!” Zabala said.

“Teachers cannot afford to stay idly in their homes while the Duterte government neglects our welfare and makes our burdens heavier by the day,” he added.

Zabala said that teachers urgently need economic relief, the reason why the group pressed the government to release their long delayed benefits.

“We have written numerous letters and requested for dialogues with concerned agencies, but these only landed on deaf ears. Mamamatay kami nang dilat sa kamanhidan at kainutilan ng gobyernong ito kung hindi kami kikilos at magpoprotesta . Our collective action is our weapon to assert our demands,” he said.

Teachers have appealed for P1,500 monthly internet allowance and overtime pay, as well as the release of their performance-based bonus in 2019.