Groups from different sectors gather at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City last July 27, 2020 to protest hours before the fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Duterte. The protesters practiced social distancing and adhered to strict health and safety protocols. INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) is inclined to contain protest groups at the Quezon City Memorial Circle (QCMC) during President Rodrigo Duterte’s final State of the Nation Address (Sona) at the House of Representatives on July 26.
QC Mayor Joy Belmonte said that so far, only one group, which she did not name, has submitted a request for permission to hold protest rallies during Duterte’s Sona and the group has already held a dialogue with the QCPD.
The QCPD, in turn, is waiting for guidelines from the national government’s pandemic task force on whether to allow protest activities or not.
“At the moment, QCPD is inclined to just allow them to rally sa freedom parks sa lungsod,” Belmonte said.
Quezon City has only one freedom park, an area where protesters can hold demonstrations without the need to secure permits, which is the QCMC, Belmonte said.
The QC government will likewise review and assess the plans and proposals of the group and will release guidelines for them to follow.
Meanwhile, the QCPD reportedly denied the request of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) to hold a protest along Commonwealth Avenue during Duterte’s Sona on July 26.
In response, Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes Jr. said the QCPD has “no authority to approve or deny a rally permit.”
He said in a statement that the authority only lies with the local government unit.
In last year’s Sona, the city government denied requests for rally permits following an advisory from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, which banned mass gatherings due to the pandemic.
Under the law, demonstrations and meetings may be held at any time in freedom parks without permits from local governments.
Yearly, the SONA is known to draw several protests from critics of the administration.