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House Bill 5316 otherwise known as the Anti-Planking Act of 2011, which will prohibit student groups to perform planking (the act of lying face down publicly on any surface which became an internet craze) during street rallies, has been filed by Congressman Winston Castelo of Quezon City in the House of Representatives after a group of student protesters caused traffic disruptions when they did the act in Manila last Monday.

In the bill’s explanatory note, Cong. Castello said, “Parents and teachers have reason to be alarmed if these similar protest actions will have as a scheme and scene otherwise warm and living bodies laid down across street highways as though they were offerings to the gods.”

“The parent in me tells me that this precedent in the case of the this massive transport strike where militant street protesters who are students of various schools have to lie down or serve as ‘planks’ across the road to disrupt what should be normal traffic could just be very dangerous in the future. Life and limb are pretty much at risks here were unbelieving bus drivers or law enforcement authorities might just ram through these warm and living bodies rolled out on highways,” Castelo added.

“The bill would not criminalized planking.” Cong. Castello said. “There is no penalty clause. Only administrative sanction from their school. I was a UP student joining rallies then. I respect the rights of students to express grievances. I learn from them. I recognize the constitutional guarantee to freedom of expression. However, as a parent I can not compromise the safety of rallyist and general public. As a lawmaker we are mandated by our sworn duty to protect everyone’s welfare.”