Protesters urged not to hold rallies on Duterte’s 1st SONA

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Monday urged protesters to talk to President Rodrigo Duterte on another occasion instead of staging rallies during the chief executive's first State of the Nation Address (SONA) slated next week, July 25.

Department of Finance spokesperson Paola Alvarez said militant groups should air their sentiments to the president on a different day to maintain peace and order during the SONA and enable “better communication.”

“But as our president has always said sana kung tayo ay mayroon mang hinaing let us do it peacefully,” Alvarez said in a televised press briefing.

“As previously during his inauguration he was welcoming and he was open to talking to them so instead of us staging rallies like before maybe it is better for us to talk to him na lang on a separate occasion. And he listens naman so we hope that our militant groups would also do the same,” she added.

Alvarez said the organizers are leaving security matters to the Presidential Security Group.

After being sworn in last June 30, Duterte met with members of militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) who gathered at Mendiola Street during his inauguration. They said they were airing their suggestions to the new administration when presidential guards approached and welcomed them to the Palace instead of being dispersed.

Bayan’s Secretary General Renato Reyes said they would continue to oppose anti-people policies and programs in the administration despite their alliance with the new government. He added that the left is planning a big rally for the president’s first SONA.

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