The Philippine National Police (PNP) is disrupting preparations for the Baha sa Luneta 2.0 protest actions at Rizal Park today, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) complained.
In an early morning alert, one of the organizers of the massive rally said the police prohibited the contracted team to set up the stage as well as the already-permitted road closure.
“This is clearly intended to sabotage the protest, discourage people from joining the rally, and suppress the demand to make Marcos Jr accountable for the large scale corruption in the government,” BAYAN said.
The group pointed out that no permit given in September 21 but the protest was conducted in Rizal Park without incident.
“Today’s protest is coordinated with both the Manila LGU (local government unit) and MMDA (Metro Manila Development Authority). In fact, road closures have been publicly announced already by both agencies,” BAYAN said.
“Even MMDA portalets have arrived, which proves that the protest is planned beforehand in coordination with authorities,” it added.
BAYAN said it believes the ongoing attempt to derail the Luneta protest is linked to the “overkill, unnecessary, disproportionate, and paranoid” security preparations around the vicinity of Recto, Mendiola, and Malacanang.
On Saturday, the PNP blocked major routes to Malacanang Palace to prevent BAYAN-led protesters to march from Rizal Park to Mendiola Bridge.
As of 7AM, a police blockade has been put up along Morayta and Recto Avenues. A police checkpoint was also erected at Welcome Rotunda between the cities of Quezon and Manila.
“Only a leader who is guilty of grave crimes against the people will surround himself with several layers of container vans, concrete barriers, electric fence, and barbed wires. Is Marcos Jr afraid that the people will be marching towards the palace to collect the billions of kickback funds delivered to him by Zaldy Co?” BAYAN asked.
The group calls on the people to defy the police blockade and proceed to the rally venue as planned.
“BAYAN dares the police and the Marcos Jr. government to tell the people who will mass up in front of Rizal monument that protesting against corruption is not allowed. We challenge them to announce that holding protests is disallowed during Bonifacio Day,” it said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
