QC gov't to 'review counter-points' in denial of permit to rally vs Marcos SONA

Members of the Philippine National Police-Civil Disturbance Management (PNP-CDM), in full battle gear but unarmed, are stationed along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City in preparation for the last state of the nation address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday(July 26, 2021). The PNP deploys 15,000 personnel to secure and maintain peace throughout the duration of Duterte’s final SONA.

The STAR / Miguel de Guzman

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City local government said Friday it would review its decision to deny the rally permit requested by progressive group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, which earlier questioned the reasoning behind the denial. 

In a statement sent to reporters Friday morning, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said that she was recently made aware of requests to reconsider the city hall's initial denial of the progressive groups' request to stage a rally on the day of Marcos' SONA. 

This comes after the Quezon City Police District and the Philippine National Police declared Commonwealth Avenue a "no rally zone" in the days leading up to the SONA — despite rally permits being decided on by the local government units and not the police force, according to no less than the Department of the Interior and Local Government. 

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/07/22/2197243/qc-govt-review-counter-points-denial-permit-rally-vs-marcos-sona