Police to observe ‘maximum tolerance’ in SONA protests
THE Quezon City Police District (QCPD) on Monday said it would exercise maximum tolerance against the protesters who would be gathering along Commonwealth Avenue ahead of President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nationa Address (SONA).
“As a way of respecting everyone’s right to free speech, we will allow the protesters to hold protest actions or programs, whether they are pro- or anti-Duterte administration,” QCPD chief Joselito Esquivel told reporters in Filipino.
The QCPD led routine inspections in different sub task groups (STGs) deployed near the vicinity of the Batasang Pambansa Complex as early as 10 p.m. on Sunday.
“We only wish that everyone will cooperate with us based on our community dialogue last week,” he added.
Members of various civil society groups previously talked with the QCPD and the National Capital
Region Police Office (NCRPO) and also assured authorities that they would hold their protest activities “in a peaceful manner.”
Civil disturbance management personnel from QCPD are on standby near the St. Peter’s Church along Commonwealth Avenue, where the demonstrators will hold the big demonstration dubbed as “United People’s SONA” in the afternoon.
Hours before the program, rallyists will hold their own protest activities in various assembly points in Quezon City.
Members of the Kalipunang ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) trooped in front of the National Housing Authority (NHA) office along Elliptical Road as early as 7 a.m. for a noise barrage and a short program asserting their rights to affordable mass housing.
Meanwhile, protesters from Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon, labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) have gathered at the University of the Philippines-Diliman to set up effigies with various advocacies calling to end extra-judicial killings, the Tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, martial law, and charter change, to name a few.
Members of transport groups Piston and No to Jeepney Phaseout Coalition are also set to convene at the University Avenue towards Philcoa at around 10 a.m.
“More than 1,000 drivers and operators are expected to join this march to Commonwealth Avenue,” Piston chief George San Mateo told The Manila Times.
Their movement continues to condemn jeepney phaseout, over pricing of fuel, and the modernization of public utility vehicles (PUV).
Esquivel again reminded motorists who are affected by heavy traffic especially along Commonwealth Avenue to take alternate routes in going to their destination, which have been identified.
“We expect heavy traffic today along the stretch of Commonwealth Ave. because of zipper lane or counter-flow to give way to the activities of protesters,” Esquivel said. GLEE JALEA
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