DILG acknowledges QC LGU's rejection of Bayan's request for SONA protest
By Chito Chavez
The local government units (LGUs) have the right to permit or reject requests for the staging of rallies in their respective jurisdictions with President Duterte delivering his last State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 26.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued the clarification on Thursday night, July 22, after reports revealed that the Quezon City government denied the request of activist group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) to stage a street rally along Commonwealth Avenue on the President's SONA.
“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," said DILG Secretary Eduardo Año.
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."
Elmo San Diego, chief of QC Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS), confirmed that Bayan’s request was rejected amid the dangers brought by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and based on the recommendation of the local police.
In a separate message, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen. Vicente Danao assured the readiness of the police to enforce the LGUs’ regulations and maintain law and order during Monday’s SONA.
He urged the progressive groups to hold virtual protests as a precaution to the local transmission of the more transmissible Delta variant of COVID-19.
“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, iyan po ang totoong kalaban (that is the real enemy),’’ Danao said.