By Che Palicte/Philippine News Agency
DAVAO CITY–Acting Mayor Sebastian Duterte has reminded protesters in today’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) to also respect the rights of other Dabawenyos, particularly the right to travel unimpeded in roads and public areas where rallies are expected to be held.
Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Secretary-General Carlo Ulalo said their members are expected to hold at the Freedom Park here from the morning and until President Rodrigo Duterte completes his fourth SONA in the afternoon.
Ulalo said the protest is part of the nationwide rallies by leftist organizations that are dissatisfied with the President’s leadership of the country.
In a statement sent to media late Sunday evening, the younger Duterte said progressive groups can rely on the city government’s commitment to respect freedom of speech, expression, and for anyone to “peaceably assemble to petition the government.”
But the acting mayor asked the rallyists to avoid staging their program on highways and public areas where they can impede the flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
“We need our students and workers to get to their destinations safely and on time,” he said.
The rallyists were reminded to only limit their rallies in areas where they have permits, such as in freedom parks or private properties that issued consent for their gathering.
The city government has earlier ordered the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) and Task Force Davao (TFD ) to exercise maximum tolerance, except when crimes are about to be or are being committed at the rallies.
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