PNP to arrest violent protesters during Marcos’ SONA

Protesters will be arrested if they hurt authorities providing security for the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on July 25, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Wednesday.

At a press briefing, PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said violent protesters will be brought to a bus from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

“We will implement appropriate police response kung magkakaroon po ng sakitan, definitely po ay hindi po maiiwasan na magkaroon ng arrest dyan,” she said.

(We will implement appropriate police response if there is a physical assault, definitely arrest would be inevitable.)

Fajardo added that protesters are also discouraged to burn effigy during their rallies.

PNP director for operations Police Major General Valeriano de Leon said protesters can use the Quezon Memorial Circle, the compound of the Commission on Human Rights, and the UP Diliman campus.

He appealed to the protest organizers to limit their activities to avoid traffic problems in the area and to prevent unnecessary confrontation with the police.

“If they go out of the freedom parks and it will disturb traffic and peace and order, then we will disperse them at all cost," De Leon said.

He said the group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) has filed a request with the Quezon City government to hold protest action at Commonwealth Avenue.

The police are still verifying with the city government if the request has been approved.

Earlier, the PNP said Commonwealth Avenue will be declared as "no rally zone" during Marcos’ SONA, which will be held at Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.

Peaceful protest

In a statement, Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes said the PNP cannot declare a "no rally zone" and usurp the authority of the local government unit in granting rally permits.

"We plan to march and hold a peaceful protest during SONA. We advise the PNP to refrain from spreading disinformation about the nature and purpose of the SONA rallies," he said.

He added that SONA should be an occasion to discuss issues that affect the people and should not be turned into a 'war zone.'

"This is the basic expectation with any president and this is the rationale of the annual protests. The protests provide a counterpoint to the SONA of the President," he said.

He further said the show of force is being used to distract the people from the real and fundamental issues and the current lack of a comprehensive government response to address these issues.

"All the display of police power is overkill and a total waste of public funds," Reyes said.

He said they have drafted a People’s Agenda for Change and will rally the people behind clear and urgent demands for the economy, social policy, human rights, peace, good governance and national sovereignty.

"We will submit the same to Congress and other institutions. We will measure Marcos, Jr’s so-called “inclusive and comprehensive plan” against the demands and proposals collected from our own consultations with people’s organizations," he said.—Joviland Rita/AOL, GMA News