THE fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Rodrigo Duterte was generally peaceful without any untoward incident occurring in Davao City on Monday, July 27, Davao City Police Office (DCPO) said.
DCPO Director Kirby John Kraft said this was their overall assessment as only a few protesters converged at Freedom Park.
Kraft said protesters, who went to the venue in the afternoon, only stayed for a while, talked to the media, and left eventually.
"The effective planning, intelligence monitoring, and operational readiness by all our police units in Davao City and the cooperation of all concerned sectors made this possible and successful," Kraft said.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio previously gave a directive prohibiting mass gatherings due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
However, she was keen that those who intend to conduct rallies should observe the safety protocols so as not to spread the deadly virus.
With this, the City Government posted an advisory on Sunday evening, July 27, reminding demonstrators to strictly observe the two-meter physical distancing, wearing of face mask, and bringing of their own pocket alcohol.
In response, Kraft directed the DCPO personnel in setting up barricades and chairs good for 50 persons at the Freedom Park for the protesters.
He said this measure would ensure that safety measures would be adhered to.
Meanwhile, the police director said this is the first time in Davao City that the police are setting up the convergence area for the protesters for their convenience and safety.
Kraft said while they respect the demonstrator's rights to air their grievances, however, he said there is also a need to place strict measures to curb the further spread of the virus.
"We respect the rights of those who want to express their grievances, opinions, however, they should also respect that we have duties to preserve peace and enforce the law," he said.
"As we are now facing a public health emergency, the kind of rallies they are accustomed to are not applicable today, with the situation that we have. So as not to prejudice their right to govern peaceful assemblies, that is why we are arranging the venue for their convenience, their safety and the safety of their families as coronavirus remains a threat," he added.
Kraft also said there was no untoward incident report in some parts of the city.
Kraft, meanwhile, said in a phone interview on Tuesday, July 28, that contrary to the city's previous mandate, the DCPO chief said protests were finally allowed after group leaders voiced their opposition to preventing them from converging and conducting a physical rally.
Karapatan-Southern Mindanao spokesperson Jay Apiag, in a recent SunStar Davao report, urged the city and the police to respect their constitutional right in conducting physical protest, amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Apiag said the government should "respect their right to freedom of expression," as stipulated in the 1987 Philippine Constitution.
"Kung ako po raw ay human rights defender ay hahayaan ko raw sila magkilos protesta, which is ako naman talaga ay totoong defender ng human rights kaya naman pinayagan natin sila," Apiang said.
Prior to allowing the protest, he said DCPO consulted the measures to the City Mayor and the City Health Office (CHO) of putting up barriers, and imposed the requirement of FM pass, face masks, and physical distancing in order to observe the health protocols.
But the planned Sona protest did not push through.
KMU Davao Spokesperson PJ Dizon told SunStar Davao in a phone interview that the City Government's requirements and restrictions are constricting their right to assembly, and said they will hold their Sona protest rally in a private assembly.
Dizon said various group leaders negotiated with the police to remove the barricades, and allow rallyists with no FM pass to participate.
But he said they failed to "come up with a win-win solution" and they decided to abandon the area, and staged their protests online at their various venues.
"Sa amo pa lang, kaya man namo siya himuon. Pero di namo kaya ipahigayon ang amoang programa sa venue nga ilang gimugna (In our case, we can comply with the imposed health protocols. What is unacceptable is the venue they alloted, which constrains us from doing our program)," Dizon said, adding they are eyeing to stage the protest at the center aisle of the park.
He also said DCPO's measure is a way of "controlling them."
"Among nasabtan, ang Freedom Park, dili na kinahanglan og permit, ug gani, naa ka'y katungod nga gawasnong magpadayag. Pero ang nahitabo is gusto na hinuon kontrolon sa kapulisan atong programa (Freedom parks, in our understanding, should no longer require to secure permit. In fact, anyone can stage their protest there, wherein they can freely express their grievances. What happens is that the police are, in fact, controlling our program)," Dizon said.
Kraft, meanwhile, defended the barricades and the FM pass in the requirements to ensure that only authorized persons outside residences (Apor) should only go out.
He said this measure is to ensure that minors and senior citizens, with no work or essential purpose, will be able to go out as they are considered a vulnerable sector.
"Pinagbigyan na natin sila kahit na bawal ang mass gathering. So kelangan nilang sumunod sa ating ipinatutupad na health protocol (We already allowed them to stage protest, even if it is a form of mass gathering. They should, at least, abide to our imposed health protocol)," Kraft said.
He said this setup will be implemented while the city is still under a pandemic state.
Dizon, for his part, said groups are having second thoughts of conducting physical protest. For now, he said they will continue their protests online.