Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 9) — Quezon City prosecutors on Friday issued subpoenas against 14 activists for holding a protest during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s second State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 24 without a permit.
The complaint was filed on Aug. 22 by PCol Jordan Barbado of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit of the Quezon City Police District.
According to Barbado, the said protest along Commonwealth Avenue was done in violation of Section 13(a) of Batas Pambansa 880, which requires leaders or organizers to secure a written permit from the government before holding any kind of public assembly.
“It has been observed that based on the existing records from the QC Department of Public Order and Safety, no permit to conduct rally in relation to the 2023 SONA was issued to some groups,” Barbado wrote.
Included in the list of \”illegal protesters\” are the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Timog Katagalugan spokesperson and other activists from various organizations.
Bayan insisted that the protest was valid, citing a letter signed by retired PBGen Elmo San Diego, which greenlighted the group’s mass action.
“The city interposes no objection on the aforementioned activity… Your group can assemble along Commonwealth Avenue up to Tandang Sora Avenue from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. for a peaceful and orderly gathering,” the letter read.
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Bayan said the case is yet another attack on freedom of expression and is part of the state’s systemic crackdown on activists.
\”It starkly reflects how anti-democratic Marcos Jr.’s administration truly is: they would deliberately use the nation’s coffers in a desperate attempt to drown critical voices,\” read the group’s statement.
Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes also said \”the harassment case is baseless.\”
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This is how malicious QCPD officials who filed a case vs Bayan ST members. They were already informed that a permit was issued to Bayan yet they still filed a criminal case. They know Bayan ST is our affiliate. Why? Because they sent the subpoena to our office address. pic.twitter.com/ZGTRFU7GhS
— Renato Reyes, Jr. (@natoreyes) September 8, 2023
