DILG on advisory banning SONA rallies: ‘We’re simply cascading IATF’s decision’

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Saturday clarified that the advisory it released prohibiting local government units from granting permits for demonstrations during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday was simply to “cascade” the decision of the country’s coronavirus disease (COVID-19) task force.

“Yung pinalabas po na advisory ng DILG kahapon ay to simply cascade the decision or resolution of the (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) IATF,” Interior Undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya said during the Laging Handa online press briefing.

(The advisory that was released by the DILG yesterday was to simply cascade the decision of the IATF.)

“Since we are in the middle of a pandemic, any form of mass gathering is prohibited, kasama na rin po dyan ang mga rallies and demonstrations (rallies and demonstrations included),” Malaya added.

The DILG on Friday released the advisory and was later slammed by activists who questioned its legality.

In its advisory, the DILG reminded LGUs to “strictly comply with Resolution No. 57 of the IATF.”

The IATF resolution, according to Malaya, is a “collective decision.”

“At ito pong ginawa natin is because of the health measures, itong ban na ito ay with relation to the quarantine, with the health protocols being implemented by government because of the pandemic,” he added.

(And we’re doing this because of the health measures, this ban is in relation to the quarantine, with the health protocols being implemented by the government because of the pandemic.)

/MUF