Cops block protesters before reaching target site on Commonwealth Ave.

Activist Renato Reyes confront the police blocking their way to the St. Peter Parish along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. INQUIRER.net photo / Zacarian Sarao

MANILA, Philippines — Authorities on Monday stopped protesters from continuing their march to Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City, blocking them just a few meters away from their target destination which is St. Peter Parish, after the city police constricted the road with police and orange barriers.

Bayan Secretary-General Renato Reyes, who was at the front of the march, confronted the authorities and demanded the removal of the barriers.

According to Reyes, the barriers were not part of the agreement between the Quezon City government and the protest groups.

“Hindi sila tumutupad sa usapan, gusto nila kaming pagkasyahin dito sa napakaikli, napakaliit, napakasikip na daanan,” said Reyes.

(They are not abiding by the agreement, they want us to fit ourselves through this short, narrow, small way.)

Protesters facing off members of the police force managing the peace and order along Commonwealth Avenue leading to the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City where President Rodrigo Duterte will hold his last and final State of the Nation Address. INQUIRER.net photo / Zacarian Sarao

“Obviously di kami kakasya diyan ano purpose nito [orange barriers]?” he added.

(Obviously we can’t fit through this, what’s the purpose of this?)

Authorities, however, insisted that they did not block the protesters and were even urging them to continue.

Protesters then continued their march by 12:45 p.m. after Reyes talked with the authorities.

Protesters began marching from the University of the Philippines-Diliman to Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City ahead of President Rodrigo Duterte’s final State of the Nation Address.

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