By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Amid circulating reports of protests to be held on September 21, Malacañang assured the citizenry of sufficient security personnel and protocols in place to maintain peace and order on Monday.
In a briefing on Wednesday, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stressed that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. respects freedom of speech and expression, but does not tolerate any form of violence.
In retrospect, around 200 individuals were apprehended by authorities in response to rowdy acts that transpired in last year’s protests.
“Handa po ang ating kapulisan sa darating na September 21. At ang dasal lang po natin at ang pakiusap sa ating mga kababayan—karapatan ninyo po ang magsalita, karapatan ninyo po ang manawagan. Huwag na lang po sana maging marahas.”
Meanwhile, Usec. Castro decried the statement of a political alliance leader that called out her earlier plea for peaceful demonstrations, adding that Malacañang has no right to dictate how protesters should conduct their activities.
She responded to Bayan Secretary-General Mong Palatino, “Gusto po ba nila maging marahas, gagawin po ba nila ang kanilang pagpoprotesta nang may karahasan? Iyan ay bawal sa batas, hindi po pagdidikta ang sinasabi nating gawing peaceful ang kanilang pagpoprotesta, hindi nga po sila pinagbabawalan.”
The Malacañang official asked, “So ang tanong: Kung ayaw ninyo ng peaceful, anong gusto ninyong klaseng protesta? Marahas, may pananakit, may batuhan, may pang-aabuso sa ating mga kapulisan? Tama ba iyan? Dapat ba itong i-tolerate ng mga kababayan natin? Ano ba ang ipinaglalaban nila dito? Para sa taumbayan o para sa karahasan?”
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