Miltants burn the effigy of president Benigno Aquino during the SONA rally along Commonwealth Avenue Quezon City. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/RAFFY LERMA
Malaca帽ang on Saturday repeated its call for protesters to hold a peaceful demonstration on Monday, during President Benigno Aquino III鈥檚 last State of the Nation Address (Sona).
鈥淎s is with every year, let us cooperate with the authorities and let鈥檚 keep the protests peaceful and safe,鈥� Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said over state-run Radyo ng Bayan.
鈥淜asama po 鈥榶an sa ating demokrasya, 鈥榶ung the ability to rally, to demonstrate, and to be able to express your thoughts on a certain issue or a certain administration, but again, let鈥檚 keep it peaceful,鈥� she added.
(That鈥檚 part of our democracy, the ability to rally, to demonstrate and to be able to express your thoughts on a certain issue or a certain administration, but again, let鈥檚 keep it peaceful.)
Valte asked rallyists to not pick fights with the police.
A larger number of protesters are expected to troop to Commonwealth Avenue to listen to Aquino鈥檚 Sona and express their dissent against the current administration.
On Friday, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Secretary-General Renato Reyes said the Quezon City local government has yet to respond to their request for a rally permit.
鈥淚f no action is taken within two days from filing last July 20, the application is deemed granted. As such, we have the legal right to march to Batasan Road on Monday,鈥� he said.
Reyes pointed out that the Philippine National Police (PNP) is not the approving authority when it comes to rallies.
鈥淭he blockades they are setting up along Commonwealth Avenue for Monday are illegal and [violative] of our constitutional rights,鈥� he said.
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