At least 28 members of various activist groups were arrested for holding demonstrations in Tacloban City, which President Arroyo visited Tuesday morning for the opening of the Palarong Pambansa, police said.

Senior Police Officer 1 Andrew Roca of the Tacloban City Police Office said among those arrested were Pong Acbo, chairman of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) in Eastern Visayas; Lou Molon, regional coordinator of Bayan; Chantal Eco, secretary-general of Katungod-Karapatan; and Kenneth Tiu, chairman of the League of Filipino Students in Tacloban.

Roca said the 28 activists were detained at the Tacloban City Police Officer for charges of illegal assembly and disruption of public order.

The activists were arrested at the Remedios Trinidad Romualdes Freedom Park, ahead of President Arroyo's arrival in Tacloban City. Mrs. Arroyo visited the province to grace the opening of the Palarong Pambansa.

Bayan chairman Renato Reyes, meanwhile, said the arrest was a clear "suppression of the freedom of expression and right to assemble." With a report from radio dzMM