Catriona Gray questions arrest of LGBT protesters: 'Is this the new normal?'

Catriona Gray on Friday frowned upon the arrest of at least 20 LGBT members who held a protest on Manila's Mendiola Street.

In a Facebook post, the Miss Universe 2018 titleholder asked, "Is this the new normal?"

She added, "If proper health guidelines were being followed, (social distancing, mask wearing) why the use of force? Why the withholding of rights (witnesses said they were not read their miranda rights before arrest nor given reason of arrest)? Videos circulating online confirm this."

The beauty queen encouraged the public to exercise their right to raise their voice.

"Pride, since the beginning has been a protest. Now is the time to speak up. #FREEPRIDE20 #PRIDE2020," she wrote.

Reports said a police officer, without provocation, allegedly grabbed one of the protesters from behind. This protester was supposedly asking the policemen to let the speakers at the event finish their respective speeches.

However, according to Manila Police District General Assignment and Investigation Section chief Police Captain Arnold Echalar, one of the protesters had allegedly sprayed an unknown liquid at a cop.

According to the police commander, the protesters were arrested for illegal assembly and violation of the prohibition on mass gathering amid the quarantine.

Earlier this month, eight persons who protested against the anti-terrorism bill in front of UP Cebu were arrested by police.

A court in Cebu later ordered their release.

—JCB, GMA News