PNP to ‘exhaust all peaceful means’ to stop effigy-burning at Sona

Bagong Alyansa Makabayan Southern Tagalog members burn the effigy of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Durterte along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City in this photo taken on July 22, 2024. INQUIRER.net file photo MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) maintained that it will “exhaust all peaceful means” to prevent protesters from burning effigies at rallies during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s upcoming fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona). “If someone will burn things, it is not allowed. As a matter of fact, not only effigies, burning anything is not allowed,” PNP public information chief Col. Allen Rae Co, speaking in a mix of Filipino and English, told reporters in an interview in Camp Crame on Friday. “We will exhaust all peaceful means to stop this. This is an illegal act. If not, we will have to act more decisively,” he added. Article continues after this advertisement READ: PNP warns vs ‘outside provocateurs’ at Sona 2026 rallies To recall, in 2023, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) lodged a complaint against an artist with the militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan over the burning of an effigy of Marcos during his second Sona. In lodging the complaint, the QCPD cited Republic Act No. 8749 or the Clean Air Act and RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. Co previously noted that at least three groups were granted permits by authorities to stage rallies along Commonwealth Avenue to protest Marcos’ Sona on Monday, July 27. Earlier, in a statement, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. warned protest organizers to stay vigilant against “outside provocateurs.” Article continues after this advertisement “We respect and we acknowledge the constitutional right of everyone to peaceful assembly… But, if there’s chaos and the general public’s safety is being endangered, we need to do an action,” Co maintained. “We will not allow some people… to mix with the rallyists just to start or instigate violence. We will exercise what is just, what is fair in a lawful manner to stop whatever they are planning,” he added. /jpv Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.