FILE PHOTO: Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday asked protesters not to cause any disturbance during the inauguration of President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on June 30 for an orderly transition of power.
DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said the agency had received information that simultaneous rallies organized by the Left will be held all over the country, including Metro Manila, Baguio, Iloilo, Cebu, and Naga City, on Thursday, June 30.
He appealed to protesters not to be unruly during the event.
“Ang paki-usap lang po namin sa kanila [protesters], hindi maging unruly or mag cause [ng] disturbance itong pagtitipon na ito [rallies] – it must be peaceful,” he said.
(Our only request to the protesters, their rallies should not be unruly or cause a disturbance – it must be peaceful.)
Malaya added that while protesters have the right to voice their opposition, they should not provoke police personnel during their rallies.
“If you want to have a protest action, you have all the right in the world to do that, so long as peaceful po ito at huwag ninyo pong ipo-provoke ang ating kapulisan para gumawa ng eksena at ma-media kayo,” he said.
Malaya said that police personnel are instructed to apply maximum tolerance and just communicate with protesters, if possible, but are allowed to compel if necessary.
“Kung hindi po ito [rallies] magiging peaceful, may karapatan naman po ang ating mga kapulisan to apply force,” he said.
(If the rallies are not going to be peaceful, our police personnel have the right to apply force.)
Malaya called on the protesters to respect the people’s decision to elect Marcos in the May 2022 national elections.
“Sana igalang nila [protesters] ang desisyon ng majority o ng taong-bayan sa nakalipas na halalan, ‘wag naman nilang gawan ng eksena sa inagurasyon dahil ang buong Pilipinas ang gusto po natin ay orderly transition of power,” he said.
(We hope that protesters respect the decision of the majority of the people during the past elections. They should not make a scene at the inauguration because the entire Philippines wants an orderly transition of power.) — Christine Annie Asistio, INQUIRER.net trainee
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