The "protest" attire worn by Makabayan bloc lawmakers during the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Marcos in 2022 (Makabayan Coalition's Facebook page)

Former Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares slammed a directive from the House of Representatives that banned “protest attire" inside the Batasang Pambansa Complex for the upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Marcos on July 22.

Colmenares, a co-chairperson of the Makabayan coalition, says such an order is “really absurd” given that Congress is supposed to follow the 1987 Constitution.

“Nowhere in the Constitution does it say na isang krimen ang magsuot ng kasuotan ‘pag hindi nababagay sa okasyon (that it is a crime to wear clothing that does not suit the occasion),” he said in a press conference on Thursday, July 11.

House Secretary General Reginald Velasco earlier announced that outfits that convey “anything derogatory” to a personality, persons of authority, or even government initiatives, are not allowed inside the plenary.

These supposed violators will only be allowed entry in the SONA venue once they change clothes.

“Private party ba ang SONA? Kasi kung private party pwede ka sigurong mag-screen ng mga iimbitahin mo,” quipped Colmenares.

(Is the SONA a private party? Because if it's a private party, you can probably screen those you invite.)

According to him, this is a blatant violation of the freedom of expression as enshrined in the Constitution.

“Hindi pwedeng ipagbawal ang expression of protest lalo na ng miyembro ng Kongreso at walang karapatan ang sinumang Secretary General ng Kongreso o Speaker ng House na magbawal ng sinumang guest na tingin niya may personal na atake sa persona doon,” the former lawmaker said.

(The expression of protest cannot be banned especially to a member of Congress, and no Secretary General of Congress or Speaker of the House has the right to ban any guest who they think has a personal attack on a person there.)

“Magiging isyu ‘yun ‘pag ipagbawal nila. In fact, magkakakaso sila kung sakaling ipagbawal nila ang isang miyembro ng Kongreso on the basis na protest ang laman ng kaniyang kasuotan,” he added.

(That will be an issue if they ban it. In fact, they will be met with a case if they ban a member of Congress on the basis that their clothing contains protest imagery.)

Colmenares pointed out that in previous SONAs, incumbent lawmakers of the Makabayan bloc wore "protest" attire which does not include personal attacks on certain personalities.

Last year, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro, Gabriela Women’s Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas, and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel were seen wearing hand-painted attire with protest images calling for higher wages among other concerns.

“Very principled ang posisyon, hindi naman ‘yan nangre-redtag, hindi siya parang atakeng personal (The position is very principled, that's not red-tagging, it's not like a personal attack). It was clear old principle. So I do not see any reason bakit ipagbawal (why it should be banned),” noted Colmenares.

At the same time, fellow Makabayan member and former ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio said the ban on burning effigies in protest in relation to the upcoming SONA also violates freedom of expression.

“Hindi pwedeng ipagbawal ‘yan dahil ang pinakabatayan natin mismo ay karapatang ginagarantiya ng Konstitusyon,” said Tinio.

(That cannot be banned because our basis there is a right guaranteed by the Constitution.)

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) recently announced that it will not hesitate to arrest protesters who are seen burning effigies.