Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday called on law enforcement authorities to respect Filipinos’ constitutional right to peaceful assembly as thousands of members of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) gathered along EDSA in support of Senator Rodante Marcoleta and protest what they called “bending the law”.
Speaking in a Facebook broadcast on June 30, Cayetano urged authorities to exercise maximum tolerance and ensure that demonstrators are allowed to peacefully express their views.
“Ang pakiusap [lang] sa ating law enforcers, not only maximum tolerance, respect the right for peaceful processes and peaceful protest. Ang hihingi po natin ay sundin ang Konstitusyon. Kaya ang hiningi natin ay peaceful protest,” he said.
Cayetano’s statement came as the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) maintained a full alert status and deployed more than 5,000 police personnel across Metro Manila, including more than 3,000 along White Plains Avenue.
Authorities said the situation remained generally peaceful despite earlier tensions and reiterated that they would not disperse the gathering despite the absence of a permit, as long as it remained orderly.
Cayetano encouraged Filipinos to take part in peaceful civic action in whatever way they could, saying participation does not necessarily require joining the rally in person.
“Participate in your [own] way. If what you can do is pray, then pray. If what you can do is pray but also post in your Facebook, in your Instagram, sa kahit anong social media [then participate,] imulat [natin] ang ating mga kababayan sa nangyayari sa ating bansa,” the Minority Leader said.
He added that those unable to join the gathering could organize small community assemblies and use social media to raise awareness.
Cayetano said peaceful demonstrations are protected under the Constitution and should serve as a way for citizens to express their concerns over national issues.
“Napaka-importante po na maramdaman ng gobyernong ito na mali ang kanilang ginagawa, na hindi tayo papayag na pagtatakpan po ang katotohanan,” he said.