A GROUP of workers were disappointed after authorities did not allow them to march in Davao City streets and visit the monument of Gat. Andres Bonifacio as part of the celebration of the Bonifacio Day Friday, November 30.
“Actually, dismayado gyud mi kay for the first time, giharang mi (We are actually disappointed because for the first time we were blocked),” Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (Sentro) Davao area chapter chairman Joel Bañas said in an interview with SunStar Davao Friday.
Bañas said that the group has been doing marches and tributes for Bonifacio every year and this is the only time that they were blocked at Rizal Park and Claveria and they were not even allowed to march on the sidewalks.
“Karon pa gyud sa mismong adlaw ni Bonifacio nga mura na-repressed gyud og ayo ang atong katungod (This day, on the very day of Bonifacio, we experience repression of our rights),” Bañas said.
Roxas Precinct Commander Cuison Bienvenido said the group was not allowed to conduct their annual march for the celebration because they may affect the traffic flow.
“Allowed naman sila mag-conduct ng rally, provided lang na hindi sila manggugulo so yung ordinance natin is bawal talaga sila magharang sa daan,” Cuison said.
He added that the group was not allowed to visit the Bonifacio monument for security reasons as advised by the ground commander.
“Baka makagulo sa mga sasakyan kaya hindi nalang sila pinayagan magpunta sa monument,” Cuison said, adding that they are allowed at the Freedom Park anyway and that permit is really needed to stage rallies or march that may obstruct the traffic flow in the city.
Meanwhile, Davao City Vice Mayor Bernard Al-ag said that the ordinance is not yet effective because it still has to be signed by the City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and need to be published in general circulation.
“I want to reiterate that the ordinance only prohibits the blocking of public roads. It does not prohibit any public rallies,” Al-ag said. (LHC)