Robredo sets thanksgiving at Ateneo on Friday

Leni Robredo —FILE Photo FROM THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

Agreeing that the event would attract an “enormous crowd,” the Quezon City government and organizers of the thanksgiving party for presidential candidate Leni Robredo’s supporters will be holding the activity in another venue, canceling what was originally set at the Quezon Memorial Circle.

An “extensive dialogue” between the city’s Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS) and the event organizers of “Tayo Ang Liwanag: Isang Pasasalamat” decided that the venue slated on Friday would not be held at the Liwasang Aurora, considering it was “not an ideal venue.”

According to a statement by the city government, the DPOS explained to organizers that they were expecting an “enormous” crowd to gather on a weekday and it would cause “massive traffic jams, countless stranded commuters and a significant risk to overall public safety.”

“Given this, the pending permit request for the event was not granted, and the organizers understood and respected the decision,” the Quezon City government said on Thursday.

Everyone is welcome

The event, which is expected to be attended by Robredo and running mate Sen. Francis Pangilinan, will instead be held at the Ateneo De Manila University in Loyola Heights, Quezon City, with the same schedule, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday.

Barry Gutierrez, Robredo’s spokesperson, announced on Twitter that Ateneo shall waive the campus’ entry passes for the event.

“Everyone is welcome, you don’t need to be a student or staff of the Ateneo,” he said.

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