Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 19) — Thousands of protesters are expected to gather along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on July 24, Monday, as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to deliver his second State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Political alliance Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said thousands are expected to participate in what they dubbed as the People’s State of the Nation Address.
“The SONA protest this year will be bigger compared to last year. Mas marami ang galit, mas marami ang naliwanagan kasama ang mga kababayan nating gustong i-register ‘yung protest doon sa policies ni Marcos,” Bayan Secretary General Raymond Palatino said.
[Translation: The SONA protest this year will be bigger compared to last year. A lot more are angry, there are more people who now understand and want to register a protest on Marcos’ policies.]
Palatino said they have coordinated their protest with the local governments and the Quezon City Police District (QCPD).
Authorities have been informed about the route of their march and program schedule to minimize public inconvenience.
The rally will kick off at 9 a.m. at the Commission on Human Rights main office, hours before Marcos is set to deliver his speech at Batasang Pabansa.
Protesters will then march to Tandang Sora Avenue where the People’s SONA is set from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
A highlight of the event will be the burning of an effigy of Marcos showing him as a two-faced figure on the image of a coin.
Palatino said the groups also have contingency measures planned in case it rains.
Maximum tolerance
As progressive groups continue to gear up for the major protest, the police said the officers to be deployed are trained in dealing with protesters.
“We always exercise maximum tolerance. Expected namin na kahit may permit o wala, po-protesta ang mga ‘yan (We expect them to protest with or without permits)…We always expect the worst and prepare for the best,” QCPD director PBGen. Nicolas Torre III said.
The general also confirmed that a permit has been given to one of the expected progressive groups joining the People’s SONA.
CNN Philippines’ correspondent Xianne Arcangel contributed to this report.
