DILG Secretary Eduardo Año (File photo)
MANILA – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said the decision on whether to grant or deny rally permits is up to the discretion of local government units (LGUs).
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año made the clarification following reports that the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has "denied" the request of the group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) to stage rallies along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City during President Rodrigo Duterte's final State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 26.
"Granting of rally permit is within the authority of the mayors. They must abide by the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) omnibus guidelines particularly on provisions against mass gatherings," Año said in a message late Thursday night.
Section 6 (a) of Batas Pambansa 880 or the Public Assembly Act of 1985 states that "it shall be the duty of the mayor or any official acting in his behalf to issue or grant a permit unless there is clear and convincing evidence that the public assembly will create a clear and present danger to public order, public safety, public convenience, public morals or public health."
NCRPO chief, Maj. Gen Vicente Danao Jr., also said the police's role is limited to enforcing the LGUs' decision.
“Only the LGU is allowed to give permits. The (police) is just there to implement it,” Danao said in a separate message.
Quezon City Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS) chief Elmo San Diego also confirmed that the group's request was rejected, heeding the local police's recommendation citing the threat of the more transmissible coronavirus Delta variant.
The OCTA Research Group has called on the national government to impose stricter quarantine measures following an increase in Covid-19 infections in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Danao, meanwhile, urged progressive groups to hold virtual protests to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus.
“We encourage them to just stay at home. Joining rallies might be a cause for a fast spread of Covid-19 especially that the Delta variant is already here in the country. We need to cooperate in our fight against the pandemic, yan po ang totoong kalaban (that is the real enemy)," Danao stressed.
Since last year, mass gatherings, including protest actions that draw large crowds have been banned to curb the spread of Covid-19.
A total of 15,000 police personnel will be deployed to secure peace and order during the said event especially from those who will try to inflict harm or try to disrupt the peaceful and orderly conduct of this year's SONA.
Danao said they have contingency plans in place for any untoward incidents during the event.
"We also have what is called freedom of expression but of course, let us always take consideration of the IATF rules because it can be a cause of wide spreaders especially now with Delta variant, which is very dangerous. So we are begging everyone that if you have nothing important to do, maybe just stay at home. Let's protect ourselves,” he said.
He added that they are also deploying body-worn cameras to determine which areas would need more police visibility.
“Mas makikita natin yung movement ng mga tao at mas matututukan natin yung placement ng police deployment. This is to ensure na hindi tayo malulusutan ng any suspicious person na maaaring gumawa ng kalokohan (We will be able to see the movement of the people better and we will be able to focus more on the placement of their deployment. This is to ensure that we will not be overtaken by any suspicious person who may be committing a mischievous act)," he said. (PNA)
