RALLYISTS will be allowed near the venue of the inauguration of President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr (BBM) at National Museum in Manila if they are supporters of the incoming president.
PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr made the statement yesterday as he said anti-government protests will not be allowed in the area during the June 30 inauguration.
“Well kung ang isisigaw mo naman ay mabuhay si Bongbong Marcos, eh di ilalapit pa kita siguro. (Well, if you are going to shout ‘long live Bong Marcos, I might even bring you nearer),” said Danao in a press briefing in Camp Crame.
“Wala tayong problema doon. So sa mga nagra-rally at isinisigaw niyo mabuhay yung bagong presidente, eh di okay. (We have no problem with that. To the protesters who will shout ‘long live the new president’, that’s okay),” he said.
If the cause of the protesters is government, that is a different story, he said.
PNP director for operations Maj. Gen. Valeriano de Leon last week said no “illegal rallyists” will be able to get close to the National Museum during the inauguration of Marcos.
De Leon has said civil disturbance management teams have been given instructions not to allow protesters at the inauguration area to ensure smooth flow of the event.
Asked if protesters will be allowed near the site, Danao said: “Basta ang isisigaw mo nga, mabuhay yung bagong presidente, wala namang problema. (As long as you are going to shout long live the new president, there is no problem.”
In the event the anti-government protesters march to the site, Danao said, “We all have freedom of expression, that’s right. But if its for the government, we have no problem with that.”
“But if you are pulling down government, especially those who are leading it, that really (a different case),” said Danao.
Danao said that while the protesters have the right to express themselves, they have to respect government forces mandated to secure the inauguration of the incoming president.
De Leon last week said the PNP has not received information from Manila or Quezon City about any group applying for a permit to rally. On Monday, he said about 2,000 policemen will be deployed to secure the venue site and asked those planning to attend the inauguration to use transparent bags for faster inspection.
He reiterated the PNP has not monitored any threat to sabotage the inauguration.
