14 activists charged over SONA protests

MANILA, Philippines — Criminal complaints were filed by the police against 14 leaders of cause-oriented groups for staging rallies during the second State of the  Nation (SONA) of President Marcos without allegedly securing a permit from the local government.

The leaders of the militant groups were charged by the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) for violation of Batas Pambansa 880 or the Public Assembly Act.

The QCPD filed the complaint after it learned from the Quezon City department of public order and safety on Aug. 14 that a permit to conduct a rally was not issued to the militant leaders’ groups for the July 24 anti-SONA rally.

Sought for comment, Bayan president Renato Reyes said the complaint has no basis as they secured a permit  to hold a rally from the local government last July 20, four days before the SONA.

He pointed out that Bayan Southern Tagalog is a regional chapter of their organization, hence it no longer secured a separate permit.

“The basic understanding is that they are part of the bigger contingent that was granted a permit for that day,” Reyes said in a message on Viber.

He said the QCPD is trying to come up with more “ridiculous” charges to suppress freedom of speech and the right to a peaceful assembly.

Reyes also condemned the QCPD for filing complaints against the creators of an effigy that was burned during the SONA.

The complaints are for violation of  Republic Act 9003  or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and RA 8749, also known as the Philippine Clean Air Act.

“This case is clearly repression hiding behind feigned concern for the environment,” he said in a statement.