Militants troop toward Batasan for Duterte’s SONA, the first time they are allowed near

Members of various militant groups headed early on Monday to Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City to air their concerns on the day President Rodrigo Duterte will deliver his State of the Nation Address.

For the first time, militants were allowed to get nearer to Batasan, and in fact got past the Ever Commonwealth mall around 8 a.m.

LOOK: Mga militante, labis na ikinatuwa na nakatungtong sila sa Batasan Road ilang hakbang sa Batasan Complex. pic.twitter.com/Xb37oHil3C

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) July 25, 2016

Bayan Secretary-General Renato "Nato" Reyes was able to even reach Batasan, dzBB reported.

Renato Reyes: 1992 nagsimula akong mag-rally sa SONA pero first time akong nakatungtong malapit sa Batasan. pic.twitter.com/rcjMBTsCgn

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) July 24, 2016

In his interview on Unang Balita, Reyes clarified their group’s actions as a “rally” in support of the agenda of the President and not a protest.

“Rally ang tawag namin dito... Rally para sa agenda ng mamayan at suporta sa magagandang hangarin ng administrasyong Duterte,” Reyes said.

Quezon City Police District Director St. Supt. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar on Monday said Reyes even treated him to a glass of taho.

"Ako'y natutuwa dahil unang-una ang commitment ng mga magra-rally magiging tahimik ito," Eleazar said.

He added that Commonwealth Avenue will not be closed to rallyists. "Ang kahabaan ng Commonwealth, walang closure 'yan."

Eleazar said on Unang Balita the QCPD and contingent officers from the National Capital Region Police Office offered the Serbisyong Bayan Park along Batasan Road for the militant groups to hold their rally.

“Itong SB Park ay ino-offer natin sa ating mga raliyista na i-occupy nila ito para gawin ang kanilang programa base na rin sa recommendation ng ating Regional Director sa NCRPO at Chief PNP sa pagnanais ng ating Pangulo na maging tahimik ito at ma-accomodate lahat ng concern at hindi mag-create ng trapiko,” he said.

Eleazar mentioned the police will still implement maximum tolerance but minus the container vans, barbed wires, and long barricades keeping them at bay.

He added the number of police officers and equipment allotted by the PNP is not necessarily geared toward the rallyists but also lawless elements.

During the last State of the Nation Address of former President Benigno Aquino III, militant groups and the police force clashed along Commonwealth Avenue in the rallyists' attempt to go near the Batasang Pambansa Complex.

Activists mobbed two alleged government intelligence officers while they were preparing for their SONA protests. 

The men caught the attention of the activists after seeing them take pictures of their leaders.

Water cannons were also a normal sight during SONA rallies and were used to disperse protesters after they overturned concrete barriers and threw stones at police officers to try and enter the Batasang Pambansa. 

Militant party-list groups also staged a protest against Aquino inside the Plenary Hall of Batasang Pambansa while he was delivering his SONA in 2015. 

First time to be near Batasan

Reyes, for his part, on Monday said he is happy that rallyists can go near Batasan for the first time.

"Nagpapasalamat tayo sa Pangulo kasi inauguration pa lang, itinanong na namin kung pwede kami sa Batasan," Reyes said.

The Bayan leader described Duterte as a president who understands the militant groups and is willing to listen on their grievances.

“Ang malaking kaibahan ngayon yung presidente. The president understands. Ang presidente hindi takot at handang makinig. Noong panahon pa lang ng inauguration niya napag-usapan na namin kung puwede ba makalapit kami sa Batasan. sabi niya walang problema kaya nandirito kami,” Reyes said.

“This would be the frst time. Medyo historic ito kasi never pa kaming nakaabot sa Batasan Road mula noong sumali ako sa rally ng SONA noong 1992. Ngayon lang ako nakatungtong dito sa panahon na mayroong rally sa SONA,” he added.

Duterte also has a standing invitation to attend their rally before or after his SONA.

“Mayroon kaming outstanding invitation sa presidente na anytime na gusto niyang dumaan sa rally at makinig sa mga tao ay welcome na welcome po siya sa gagawin naming rally sa labas ng Batasan,” Reyes said. —With Joseph Tristan Roxas/KG, GMA News