Palace to protesters: Follow law in staging rallies

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Malacañang on Sunday called on protesters to follow the law when staging demonstrations, as it defended authorities carrying out their mandate to maintain peace and order.

“Pag sinabing no rally zone, sana naman ay sumunod kayo sa polisiya kung ano ang itinatakda ng batas at kung ano ang sinasabi ng rules. Hindi pwedeng sabihin makabayan kayo kung sarili nating rules ay hindi nyo kayang tuparin,” Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said during a press briefing.

(When an area is designated as a no-rally zone, I hope you follow the policies set by law and the rules. You cannot claim to be patriotic if you cannot follow our own rules.)

“Ang kapulisan, ang mandato nila ay magbigay ng peace and order. So hindi dahil meron kayong karapatan, ang kapulisan ay hindi kikilos para lamang pabayaan kayo na gumawa ng mga krimen,” she added.

(The police's mandate is to maintain peace and order. Having the right to protest does not mean the police cannot act and should simply allow you to commit crimes.)

According to GMA News' Darlene Cay, Manila Police District chief legal officer Police Capt. Felino Nabato said five individuals were arrested for causing a disturbance and holding a protest outside the designated freedom park.

Anakbayan, meanwhile, criticized authorities over what it described as the fouling of Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila, after human waste was reportedly seen at the freedom park on Sunday.

The group said the waste was found at the site where protesters planned to camp before staging a demonstration against the Pax Silica Initiative.

US President Donald Trump is scheduled to arrive in the Philippines on November 17 for the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.

His planned visit has drawn concerns from several civil society groups, many of which have announced protests to denounce his presence in the country.— MCG, GMA News

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