Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said on Friday that groups who will stage protests during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte must secure a permit and coordinate with the Quezon City Police District (QCPD).
“Alam naman po natin na merong patakaran o batas na kailangan humingi ng permits ang mga raliyista sa isang local government unit, and naghintay naman po tayo, and we were able to receive one permit lang po (We know that there is a policy or law requiring rallyists to ask for permits from a local government unit, and we waited, and we were able to receive only one permit),” she said in an interview with DZMM.
“So given that one permit, ito pong grupong ito ay nakipagpulong na po sa ating QCPD, at ang QCPD naman po ay naghihintay lang po ng guidelines mula sa IATF (So given that one permit, this group has already met with our QCPD, and the QCPD is just waiting for guidelines from the IATF),” she added.
The mayor said they will assess and review the applications and make sure that minimum health protocols will be followed during the protest.
She also said that groups may hold protests at the city’s freedom park without securing a permit.
Meanwhile, the Department of Interior and Local Government clarified that the grant of rally permit is within the authority of the city mayors as long as the IATF guidelines on mass gatherings are being followed.
Read more: https://mb.com.ph/2021/07/23/dilg-acknowledges-qc-lgus-rejection-of-bayans-request-for-sona-protest/