House OKs bill strengthening free expression, peaceable assembly

The House of Representatives on Monday approved on third and final reading a measure which seeks to strengthen the right of the Filipinos to free expression, peaceably assemble and to petition the government for redress of grievances.

Voting 212-5, the chamber approved House Bill 6834, a measure which aims to repeal Batas Pambansa Blg. 880 or the "Public Assembly Act of 1985."

The measure primarily aims to ensure people of their constitutional rights to freedom of speech and of expression — as enshrined in Article III, Section for of the 1987 Constitution — without unnecessary or unreasonable impediments.

Under the bill, public assembly covers any rally, demonstration, march, parade, procession or any other form of concerted action aimed at presenting a lawful cause, expressing an opinion on any issue, and protesting against or influencing any issue or program of the government.

It, however, excludes some assemblies like picketing and other concerted action in strike areas by worker and the political meetings or rallies held during election campaign periods.

If the bill is enacted to law, any person or group intending to hold a public assembly will be required to serve a notice to the local chief executive having jurisdiction over the public place.

The mayor or any official acting in one's behalf will also be mandated to reroute traffic in public roads to prevent inconvenience.

The bill also imposes an additional prohibition such as arbitrary and unjustified filing of action to enjoin a public assembly or arbitrary and unjustified refusal to accept or acknowledge receipt of notice, discharge of firearm by any law enforcement agency or any person to disperse the public assembly, and arbitrary and unjustified dispersal of public assembly without notice.

Violators of the provisions of the bill will be slapped with jail sentence of one day to six years, as the case may be. —KBK, GMA News