The Trillion Peso March Motion’s program can be held on the Folks Energy Monument, whereas Bayan will convene on the EDSA Shrine
MANILA, Philippines – Progressive teams will mark the fortieth anniversary of the EDSA Folks Energy Revolution at EDSA on Wednesday, February 25, however not on a shared stage or with a standard program, after talks to coordinate actions and messaging broke down.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) president Renato Reyes instructed Rappler on Sunday, February 22, that efforts to coalesce with the Trillion Peso March Motion failed regardless of no less than two conferences earlier this month.
Consequently, completely different protest actions will proceed individually, even when they find yourself in the identical basic space alongside EDSA.
The Trillion Peso March Motion’s program can be held on the Folks Energy Monument alongside White Plains Avenue, whereas Bayan will convene on the EDSA Shrine.
“The teams must simply proceed with their plans kahit na hindi nagkakaisa on the very least you should have a state of affairs the place the completely different protest actions are in a standard space which is EDSA,” he instructed Rappler. “Pero there can be siguro divergence or nuancing in the case of the messaging, kung hanggang saan dinadala ang kritisismo o batikos doon sa mga personaheng sangkot sa korapsyon,” Reyes added.
(The teams will simply should proceed with their plans even when they aren’t unified, and on the very least you should have a state of affairs the place the completely different protest actions are in a standard space, which is EDSA. However there’ll doubtless be some divergence or nuance in the case of the messaging, together with how far the criticism or censure goes towards the people concerned in corruption.)
Talks to share a standard stage and program had been prompted by criticism over the separate anti-corruption rallies that had been held in September final yr.
To oust or to not oust?
The dearth of unity comes amid disagreements over political calls for and protest parameters.
In a Fb put up on Friday, February 20, Trillion Peso March Motion convenor Francis Dee mentioned their motion would concentrate on calls to jail corrupt officers, go an anti-dynasty regulation, and enact anti-corruption measures. Bayan, however, is looking for the resignation of each President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte, amongst different calls for.
Dee, grandson of democracy icons Benigno Aquino Jr. and former president Corazon Aquino, additionally mentioned that prohibited calls embody violence, appeals to the armed forces, or calls for to put in unelected our bodies resembling a revolutionary authorities or transition council.
The Trillion Peso March Motion performed a coordinated walk-through with the Metro Manila Improvement Authority (MMDA) on Friday, in preparation for Wednesday’s rally.
In the course of the coordination assembly between MMDA and Trillion Peso March Motion organizers, Elmo San Diego, head of Quezon Metropolis’s Division of Public Order and Security, mentioned that they won’t concern permits to those that name for the governments’ downfall.
“Hindi papayag ang QC authorities na ang direksyon ng rally niyo ay in need of saying a seditious stand,” he mentioned. “Positively hindi bibigyan ng allow iyan kasi ang evaluation ng QCPD diyan ay hindi tama at delikado.” (The Quezon Metropolis authorities won’t enable your rally to take a path that comes near taking a seditious stand. It positively won’t be granted a allow as a result of the QCPD’s evaluation is that it’s inappropriate and harmful.)
Reyes mentioned these restrictions didn’t sit properly with Bayan and allied teams.
“So I feel it’s very problematic pag ganoon ang sinasabi nila na you attempt to restrict the options, ito ang highest type of democracy, direct motion of the Filipino individuals,” he mentioned. (So I feel it’s very problematic after they say issues like that, whenever you attempt to restrict the options. That is the best type of democracy, the direct motion of the Filipino individuals.)
No allow?
Past political variations, logistical and allow points have additionally sophisticated coordination.
Reyes mentioned the Quezon Metropolis native authorities instructed Bayan it had no jurisdiction over the stretch of EDSA in entrance of the EDSA Shrine, and suggested the group to safe permits from the Mandaluyong native authorities and the Jap Police District.
“I don’t know why that’s the result as a result of prior to now, teams had been in a position to maintain protests on that strip in entrance of EDSA Shrine, so it shouldn’t be an issue,” he mentioned.
The Quezon Metropolis native authorities confirmed this in an announcement on Sunday, saying they endorsed Bayan’s request to the suitable companies since EDSA is a “main freeway with multi-city jurisdiction.”
Town authorities, nevertheless, permitted the appliance of the Trillion Peso March Motion, whose program can be held on the Folks Energy Monument alongside White Plains Avenue, which falls inside Quezon Metropolis.
The native authorities mentioned it additionally proposed a single, unified stage to make site visitors administration and crowd management simpler, however acknowledged that some teams didn’t agree with the suggestion.
Former Ateneo Faculty of Authorities dean and human rights lawyer Antonio “Tony” La Viña weighed in, saying no allow is required for rallies and marches below present jurisprudence. In a Fb put up, he mentioned authorities might regulate the time, place, and method of assemblies, however might not impose prior approval of content material. – With experiences from Dwight de Leon/Rappler.com
