Makabayan claims Nov.30 preps at Luneta blocked, vows to push through Luneta program

The anti-corruption protests by several groups will push through at Luneta in Manila in spite of claims their November 30 rally preparations were blocked by authorities, Makabayan said Sunday.

Makabayan President Liza Maza said they already had coordinated with the Manila city government.

"Ma setup man 'yung stage o hindi, tuloy kami," Maza told GMA News Online. 

(We will proceed with our activities whether the stage has been set up or not.)

"Lahat ng kurakot, managot. Lahat ng kurakot, dapat paurasahan. 'Yan ang malinaw na mensahe na dulot ng lahat ng magmamahal sa ating bayan," Maza said during her speech.

 (All of the corrupt should be held accountable. All of the corrupt should be punished. This is the clear message of all who love our nation.)

Maza also urged the public to join the protest action. 

"Kung kayo ay manggagawa na nagtatarabaho ng marangal, patas pero ang inyong buwis na kinukuha ng gubyerno ay nilalagay sa bulsa ng pulitiko, dapat nandito kayo," she said. 

(If you are someone who works honestly and fairly and the tax being collected from you is lining the pockets of corrupt politicians, you should be here.)

Permit

In an interview with Raffy Tima of GMA Integrated News, the Manila Police District said the group should have secured the proper permit from the concerned agency.

 "Dapat mayroon po talaga silang permit coming po dito sa Park Development Committee,  kung saan ayun po yung tinatanong sa kanila kung mayroon po silang permit, pero wala po silang maipakita sa atin kanina. Mayroon po tayong Liwasang Bonifacio kung saan Freedom Park ito, pwede sila doon at hindi natin sila hihingan ng permit. Ang sa atin lang po, hindi po sila pupwedeng magtayo ng mga stage doon kung walang pahintulot sa pamunuan ng Rizal Park," said P/Major Phillip Ines, MPD spokesperson.

(They really should have a permit from the Park Development Committee, the document that we are asking if they possess, but they could not show it to us. We have the Liwasang Bonifacio which is a Freedom Park where they are allowed to assemble and no permit is required. On our part, they cannot set up a stage at the Rizal Park without permission from its officials.)

On the claims from the groups that they have an agreement with the Manila City Government and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authhority (MMDA) that they would be allowed to rally at Luneta, Ines said his understanding is this would be at Liwasang Bonifacio.  

"Ang pagkakaalam natin, ang usapan po dito po sila sa Liwasang Bonifacio, at pagkakaalam ko magbibigay ng assistance ang local government unit pagdating sa mga emergency medical team at may magma-man din ng trapiko. Pero po dito sa nabanggit nilang gustong puntahan ay wala po silang permit kaya hinihingan natin sila doon ng permit," the police official said.

(From our understanding, the agreement was at Liwasang Bonifacio, and from what I know the local government will provide assistance when it comes to emergency medical team and traffic control. But as to what they said they want to go to, they do not have a permit so we are asking them for that.) 

Meanwhile, former Gabriela Arlene Brosas said several groups from Liwasang Bonifacio and other areas are on their way to Luneta to join the protest. 

"Hindi ‘yan mapipigilan kasi siyempre the will of the people ang supreme at alam natin ang universal right natin na makapag pahayag dito sa Luneta," Brosas said. 

(This rally will not be stopped since the will of the people is supreme and we know expressing ourselves at Luneta is a universal right.)

Ines maintained a stage is not allowed at Luneta and said they are waiting for the protest organizers to show them a permit allowing them to do so.

The police official said the deployed personnel are instructed to exercise maximum tolerance at the event

"Mapapansin naman natin ang pinakamataas na antas ng pagtitimpi. Pero ang paalala natin sa kanila na mayroon pong hangganan ang atin pong maximum tolerance. Maximum tolerance tayo pero zero tolerance sa mga magbabalak manggulo sa payapang pagkilos na ito," he added.

(You can see we are maintaining the highest form of tolerance. But we are reminding the the protesters there is a limit to maximum tolerance.  However, we have zero tolerance for those who are planning to disrupt this peaceful activity.)

Around 9:20 a.m., a portion of Roxas Boulevard has been closed from Kalaw Avenue to Padre Burgos Ave.

 As the morning went on, additional groups and ordinary citizens have been arriving at Rizal Park. 

Transport group Manibela held signages calling for accountability as they staged a protest along Kalaw Ave.Around 9:20 a.m., portion of the Roxas Blvd was close from Kalaw Ave to Padre Brugos Ave. —with a report from Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News