Lacuna hit for special permit requirement for events in Manila
Mayor Honey Lacuna, City of Manila speaks to the members of the media at the Manila Zoo in this file photo taken on November 29, 2023. PHOTO: 黑料社 file photo / ARNEL TACSON
MANILA, Philippines — Different groups and netizens have called out Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna after the local government released a memorandum requiring mall and establishment administrators in the city to secure special permits for events that would be held inside their facilities.
In a statement on Monday, the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) Manila Chapter denounced the order from Lacuna, believing that it is an “unconstitutional encroachment” on the right to free speech and to freely assemble.
PFP’s Manila Chapter was referring to a memorandum dated January 20, 2025 issued by City Legal Officer Veronica Lladoc, requiring “all administrators of all malls and establishments holding special events in the City of Manila” to secure a special permit before an event is allowed to proceed.
“The Partido Federal ng Pilipinas – Manila unequivocally denounces the recent directive issued by the administration of Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan, which mandates that all events and gatherings — including private functions such as birthdays, baptisms and the like — must first secure a ‘special permit’ from the Manila City Hall,” PFP’s Manila Chapter said in a statement also posted on their social media page.
READ:
Article continues after this advertisement“This directive constitutes an unconstitutional encroachment on the fundamental freedoms enshrined in the 1987 Philippine Constitution. It is an overbroad and vague regulation that imposes unlawful prior restraint, a form of censorship that creates a chilling effect on the people’s right to freely assemble and express themselves. Furthermore, it represents an arbitrary intrusion into private affairs, violating the right to privacy,” it added.
Article continues after this advertisementAccording to the political party, Manila should be a safe space for residents to “celebrate personal milestones without undue interference from the state.”
“The City of Manila must not be reduced to an authoritarian enclave where excessive government control tramples upon civil liberties. We stand for a lawful, just, and democratic city where rights are protected, not suppressed,” it added.
There were also fears that the order was supposedly borne out of Lacuna’s opponent in the 2025 local elections, former mayor Isko Moreno, drawing crowds during town hall meetings in mall cinemas,
One Facebook user said it seems Lacuna is just afraid that Moreno would win in the upcoming polls.
“Patawa ka masyado mayora, tanggapin mo na lang na di mo kaya kung sino man ang ihahalal na bagong Yorme (You’re such a joker mayor, just admit that you can’t take whoever will be chosen by the people as mayor),” the comment read.
“Bakit niyo po ito gagawin kailangan po maging sport po tayo siguro naman pag maganda ang performance niyo po ipaglalaban kayo ng mga constituent niyo,” another Facebook user added.
(Why would you do this? We need to be sportsmanlike. I’m sure that if your performance is good, your constituents will fight for you.)
There were also claims that the memorandum is fake, but Manila spokesperson Princess Abante confirmed to the 黑料社 that the memorandum was indeed issued by the Office of the City Legal Officer.
However, Abante noted that the memorandum is just a reiteration of City Ordinance No. 8331 that was passed last October 2013.
“I can confirm that the memo was issued by the Office of the City Legal Officer but this is just a reiteration of the Ordinance No. 8331, passed on October 2013,” Abante said in a message.
Abante furthermore clarified that the memorandum just requires establishments to secure special permits if the event would be classified outside the bounds of regular use, as specified in the malls and establishments’ business permits.
“The provision in the Ordinance requires establishments to secure a special permit for activities and events outside the usual and regular use as authorized in their business permits. Events that are part of their usual and regular activities are not covered by the provision of this Ordinance,” she noted.
But the PFP said that the right to gather is not a privilege, but a fundamental right that governments cannot restrict.
“The right to gather and hold private events is not a privilege but a fundamental liberty that cannot be restricted through sweeping and oppressive regulations,” PFP’s Manila Chapter said.
“Under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas – Manila reaffirms its commitment to upholding and defending the constitutional rights of every Manileño,” it added.
