MANILA, Philippines — Members of cause-oriented groups will be prohibited from holding rallies along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City during the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Marcos on July 25, officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday.
PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. said militant groups should hold their mass actions in designated freedom parks as the entire stretch of Commonwealth Avenue is a no-rally zone.
“As of now yung ating allowed lang po talaga is ‘yung ating freedom parks. This is para hindi po ma-hamper ‘yung ating SONA,” he said in a press conference at Camp Karingal.
Danao held a closed-door meeting with other police officials at the Quezon City Police District’s headquarters for the security preparations of Marcos’ first SONA.
By Friday, the PNP will activate Task Force Manila Shield. Once implemented, the police would conduct security operations to address various threats.
Among these are the establishment of checkpoints and deployment of police officers at government offices and other vital installations.
Danao said they continue to hold dialogues with rally organizers to convince them to confine their activities to freedom parks such as the Quezon City Memorial Circle.
Demonstrators can also hold their activity at the University of the Philippines’ Diliman campus, he added.
In defending their decision to ban protesters along Commonwealth Avenue, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Maj. Gen. Felipe Natividad said allowing protesters on the road is a nuisance and would only create public disorder and heavy traffic.
They also want to do away with the yearly scenario wherein protesters would march towards Batasang Pambansa complex and be blocked by police along Commonwealth Avenue.
Natividad said while the NCRPO would exercise maximum tolerance, there would be a “calibrated response” against the protesters.
Sought for comment, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary general Renato Reyes criticized the PNP for imposing restrictions on protesters.
“The police statement is fascist and shows utter paranoia,” he said in a message on Viber.
Bayan has applied for a rally permit along IBP Road from the city government.
At least 22,000 police officers, soldiers, personnel from other government agencies and force multipliers will secure Marcos’ SONA.