Eleazar: Protest actions on Duterte’s last SONA generally peaceful

All protest actions and public assemblies staged on the day of President Rodrigo Duterte’s last State of the Nation Address went generally peaceful, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar said  Tuesday.

In a statement, Eleazar said no untoward incident was reported in the mass activities.

“I am glad that reason prevailed over these groups to peacefully disperse or called-off their activities altogether,” he said.

“The best interest of public health and safety, and the rule of law spoke louder than the political undertones of these mass actions in the streets,” he added.

Eleazar thanked the organizers and leaders of the activities for their cooperation with the authorities.

At 9:45 a.m. on Monday, around 1,000 members of cause-oriented organizations gathered along University Lane in UP Diliman, Quezon City.

The PNP estimated that around 3,000 protesters came to the venue as of 1:30 p.m.

Another group of 200 protesters was also monitored at the CHR Office along Commonwealth Avenue around 11:50 a.m.

According to the PNP, “no visible attempts by these groups to march further to Batasan was observed until the groups eventually dispersed peacefully at 4 p.m.”

Citing report from the National Capital Region Police Office, Eleazar said no major untoward incidents or arrests were made during the day.

Eleazar added that other police regional offices observed smaller activities in some key cities across  the country, which also ended peacefully.

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) also said the anti-administration protest action of progressive groups ended peacefully.

But Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes Jr. blamed the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) for the delay in the activity.

“Despite threats of rain and incidents of vehicles being blocked, today’s protest to mark the last SONA of Rodrigo Duterte ended peacefully at around 1:30 p.m.,” Reyes said.

“The delay was due to the QCPD setting up orange barriers along Commonwealth and a police blockade that violated the earlier agreement with the QC Mayor,” he added.

Reyes said the QCPD acted in bad faith and wanted to control the march.

GMA News Online had sought the side of the QCPD but has yet to receive their statement on the matter. — RSJ, GMA News