Pinoys defy Palace advisory, join pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong

Defying an advisory from Malacañang, some Filipinos have joined the pro-democracy protest in Hong Kong, a television report said Wednesday.
 
According to GMA News' stringer Azon Cañete, overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong were among the thousands who participated in the demonstrations.

"'Yung mga leaders ng OFWs nandito... Napakalawak ng lugar, pero nagte-text sila sa'kin... Para suporta sa rallyista..," Cañete told GMA News TV's News to Go.

"'Yung ibang OFWs, sinama ng kanilang mga alaga," she added.

Filipinos who opted not to join the protests are complaining of the long distances they have to walk to get to the Philippine Consulate as public transportation there was paralyzed.

The leader of the OFW group that joined the protest yesterday told Cañete that they were not inviting others to join. However, they added that Filipinos with time to spare were welcome.

No penalties have so far been announced for foreigners who joined the protest.

The exact number of Filipinos who joined the protest, however, could not be ascertained as of posting time.
 
Only last Tuesday, a Malacañang official discouraged Filipinos in Hong Kong from joining pro-democracy protests there.
 
"Pinagpapayuhan po ang ating mga mamamayan na kung maaaring umiwas sila sa paglahok sa mga aksyon na ‘yan, at mag-focus na lang sa kanilang gawain sa Hong Kong," Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. told a press briefing.
 
For its part, the Department of Foreign Affairs earlier told Filipino tourists to avoid sites of the demonstrations, such as Central, Admiralty, Tim Mei Avenue, Lung Wei Road Causeway Bay, Mongkok, Wan Chai and the government headquarters in Tamar.

'Peaceful — for now'
 
Meanwhile, the television report noted the absence of policemen in the area since Tuesday — in contrast to last Sunday, when  protesters were repelled by riot police with tear gas and pepper spray.
 
The report quoted several rally leaders as saying they remain vigilant despite the absence of policemen there.
 
"Sabi nila, tingin nila, nagpapahinga raw... Pero baka may pinaplano... Kaya naghahanda rin sila... Very strange na walang pulis," Cañete reported.

"Naisip nila na dahil National Day ng China, iniisip siguro ng gobyerno na maraming dadalo at nagpapakita sila ng kaluwagan," Cañete told GMA News TV's "Balitanghali".

She added that most protesters were teenagers to young adults, with participants as young as 15 years old directing traffic, donations, and routes around the protest area.

Because the Hong Kong government has yet to respond to their demands, the Occupy Central campaign will continue despite reaching the deadline of Oct. 1.
 
Protests have erupted in Hong Kong over the past days after China announced that it will only allow Beijing-approved candidates to participate in the city's elections in 2017.
 
Some 195,000 Filipinos are working in Hong Kong, based on government records in 2012. The Chinese special administrative region is also a popular destination among Filipino tourists. — Amanda Fernandez and Rie Takumi/RSJ/KBK, GMA News

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