House OKs heavier penalties for unannounced rallies

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The House of Representatives, voting 212-55, has approved House Bill No. 6834 on third and final reading a proposal that imposes heavier penalties unscheduled or unannounced rallies.

 

HB 6834 seeks to replace Batas Pambansa 880, or the Public Assembly Act of 1985. 

 

Under the bill, rally organizers no longer need to secure a rally permit. However, they are required to serve a notice to the mayor three working days before the protest.

 

The measure will impose graver penalties of from six months to six years imprisonment for rallies without notice, or those held outside the notice's coverage.

 

But Cristina Palabay, secretary general of human rights group Karapatan, said citizens should not be required to get a permit or to serve notice to exercise their right to peaceably assemble.

 

"That is a basic right enshrined in the Philippine Constitution and international human rights instruments. It should take precedence over insidious attempts by a Duterte-controlled Congress to pass another repressive legislation that will further curtail people's rights," she said.

 

Karapatan reminded legislators that it is explicitly stated in the Bill of Rights in the 1987 Constitution that "no law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances."

 

She said "the use of BP 880 to file trumped-up charges against leaders have been tirelessly used by the police as basis for illegal arrests. No doubt that HB 6834 will be used to the same end."

 

She said similar charges have been filed against Karapatan paralegal staff Neil Legaspi, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Secretary General Renato Reyes and spokesperson Teddy Casiño, and several other leaders of progressive groups who took to the streets in November 2017 to protest US President Donald Trump's visit to the country.

 

Rep. Carlos Zarate (Bayan Muna party-list), Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes and other activists are also facing complaints of direct assault with physical injury, and resistance and disobedience to a person in authority because of the rally.

 

HB 6834 was passed the same day the Supreme Court affirmed the constitutionality of the extension of martial law in Mindanao.

 

"Duterte is relentless in bombarding us with repressive policies, expecting other draconian measures to pass discreetly. We thus call for vigilance," Palabay said. The group and others affiliated with Bayan believe President Rodrigo Duterte is setting up a "full-blown dictatorship", an assertion that the president and his allies and supporters dismiss as an overreaction.