PNP to allow protests vs corruption even without permit

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday the organization will allow protests even without permits following the directive of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla to respect the people’s sentiments amid corruption issues in flood control projects.

At a press conference, PNP public information office chief Police Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño was asked if the PNP will allow protests even without permits.

Tuaño responded by noting that most of the groups who held protests over the weekend did not obtain permits.

“Dahil sa kautusan ng ating SILG Jonvic Remulla kay ating [Acting Chief PNP Police Lieutenant General Melencio Nartatez Jr.] na pakinggan ang sentimyento ng bawat rallyista kaya pinayagan po ng PNP,” 

(Because of the order of our SILG Jonvic Remulla to our chief PNP Police Lieutenant General Melencio Nartatez Jr. to listen to the sentiments of each rallyist, the PNP allowed the protests without permits.)

“Makipag-usap at makipagdayalogo tayo at mag-disperse immediately after kasi nga po permissive nga po ang batas,” he added.

(Let’s talk and dialogue and disperse immediately after because the law is permissive.)

Under Section 12 and 13, the Batas Pambansa Bilang 880 or the Public Assembly Act of 1985 states:

“SECTION 12. Dispersal of public assembly without permit - When the public assembly is held without a permit where a permit is required, the said public assembly may be peacefully dispersed.

SECTION 13. Prohibited acts - The following shall constitute violations of this Act:

(a) The holding of any public assembly as defined in this Act by any leader or organizer without having first secured that written permit where a permit is required from the office concerned, or the use of such permit for such purposes in any place other than those set out in said permit: Provided, however, That no person can be punished or held criminally liable for participating in or attending an otherwise peaceful assembly..”

On September 11, Remulla earlier told the police to respect the people's sentiments.

“We respond to everything with the same seriousness pero siyempre kung may mass actions na ganyan may mass protest we have to be sensitive to the grievances of the people,” Remulla said.

(We respond to everything with the same seriousness but of course if there are mass actions like that there is a mass protest we have to be sensitive to the grievances of the people.)

“Kailangan may outlet yan the more you suppress them the worse it gets. So hayaan na natin, wala tayong pipigilan diyan but we also expect it to be peaceful and non-aggressive,” he added.

(There needs to be an outlet for that, the more you suppress them, the worse it gets. So we will not stop anything but we also expect it to be peaceful and non-aggressive.)

Remulla reiterated that the government will not suppress peaceful protests, but authorities will step in to prevent violence and maintain order.

A protest against corruption is set by different groups at Luneta Park on September 21, Sunday. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News