Sona 2024: Police to enforce law on effigy burning but no arrests so far

Protestors burn the effigy depicting President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte on their podiums, while also behind them were the faces of American President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, respectively. INQUIRER.net/Faith Argosino

MANILA, Philippines — The police will continue to enforce the law on those involved in the burning of effigies, in light of Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte’s assurance that there will be no arrests over the activity, according to Metro Manila police chief Major General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.

Protesters led by the Bagong Alyansa Makabayan concluded its program Monday morning by burning an effigy in front of Diliman Doctors Hospital at Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City before President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. held his State of the Nation address (Sona).

The effigy depicts Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte on their podiums, and behind them were the faces of American President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, respectively.

According to news reports over the weekend, Belmonte said no one will be arrested over the burning of effigies for Marcos’ Sona.

“We will enforce it. What’s important is we documented it, [and] at the same time, we have evidence,” Nartatez told reporters in an ambush interview at Quezon City police district in response to Belmonte’s pronouncement.

“We will refer the case, and it will be a test case,” he also said, adding that no arrests have been made so far.

When asked to clarify if the “test case” he was alluding to meant that the police would still charge effigy burners, Nartatez did not give a categorical answer, only saying: “We will impose the law.”

Belmonte noted that the Public Assembly Act of 1985 stated that only “malicious burning” of any object in the streets is prohibited 100 meters from the area of public assembly.

The act defines public assembly as “any rally, demonstration, march, parade, procession or any other form of mass or concerted action held in a public place for the purpose of presenting a lawful cause.”

The Quezon City mayor’s remarks were contrary to the previous pronouncement of Philippine National Police spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo, who said that effigy burning will not be allowed during the Sona.

READ: Security preparations for Sona ‘in place’ amid expected protests – PNP 

In August last year, the Quezon City Police District filed a complaint against Bayan artist Max Santiago and “three John Does” over the burning of an effigy that “greatly caused air pollution.”

A Quezon City prosecutor dismissed the case against them in January.