Bagong Alyansang Makabayan assailed the Philippine National Police for its stubborn objection to the holding of a People’s State of the Nation on July 27 in front of St Peter’s Parish along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.
Bayan and other anti-corruption advocates have already attended two meetings initiated by the QC government regarding our letter about our plans for the SONA protest, but no agreement has been finalized due to the refusal of the National Capital Region Police Office to allow rallies in front of St Peter’s Parish.
The NCRPO stance is restrictive, unreasonable, and unjust.
The proposed venue for the People’s SONA is far from Batasan Complex, and therefore our activities will neither directly affect nor threaten the joint session of Congress. The St Peter’s Shrine has already expressed support for the People’s SONA. In fact, a mass and interfaith activities will be held on the church premises.
The joint program of the People’s SONA will only take place from 2pm to 5pm, which disputes the argument of the NCRPO that the protest will gravely affect local businesses. It is the police who disturb business operations because they deploy thousands of personnel to occupy sidewalks and parking areas along Commonwealth Avenue. It is their overkill security measures that undermine city traffic and business operations.
We ask Police Major General Anthony Aberin, regional director of the NCRPO, to stop blocking the efforts of the People’s SONA organizers, the QC LGU, and other stakeholders from coming up with a mutually acceptable agreement regarding the conduct of the SONA protest activities.
We remember that Aberin was the same official who ordered the police to disrupt the Bayan-led assembly and prevent us from marching during the 40th anniversary of EDSA People Power. The police blockade caused the commotion and the heavy traffic buildup in EDSA and Ortigas.
But Aberin should also take note that Bayan defied the police blockade and asserted our right to march and hold a protest in EDSA. We will exercise the same resolve and militancy in leading the SONA protest on July 27.
The police restrictions reflect how the Marcos Jr government is trying to silence dissent amid widespread outrage against poverty, rising prices, corruption, and dominance of foreign powers in the country. It is unacceptable for authorities to suppress our right to free speech by invoking invented technicalities, imposing illogical rules and conditions, and dictating the content of our protest.
Bayan calls on the people to mobilize on July 27 and hold the Marcos government accountable for its crimes against the Filipino people. Bayan enjoins all anti-corruption groups to call out the repressive policies of the NCRPO and the Marcos government. Let us unite and defend our right to hold the People’s SONA as we pursue the continuing fight for genuine accountability, justice, and social change.