In line with reinforced security amid the continued political unrest, Malacañang yesterday announced plans to set up a no-rally zone around the seat of government power in the city of Manila.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the Palace intends to emulate the strict policy of Washington D.C. outlawing street demonstrations within a certain radius from the White House.
In an interview with reporters, Bunye said they are coordinating with Manila Mayor Lito Atienza to establish the no-rally radius from the Palace, which would include the nearby Mendiola Bridge.
Atienza, who earlier banned mass protest actions in the famous Mendiola area, supported the proposal to prohibit street rallies near Malacañang Palace, citing security risks.
He explained that his no-rally policy on Mendiola seeks to prevent a repeat of the bloody massacre in 1987 when 17 protesting farmers died in the violent police dispersal.
"Please don’t force yourself on Mendiola, this has been the site of confrontations that have not been good to the country," he appealed to the headstrong rallyists.
Emerging from a meeting in the Palace, Atienza also pointed out that Mendiola is not conducive to holding street rallies because it houses the busy university belt, which comprises several schools and universities.
"We have to think of the interest of the greater majority of our people who are not part of the rally. If students, commuters, and workers are caught in traffic for up to three hours because of these rallies, they curse the government. We have to be considerate," he said.
Atienza said Manila only allows rallies without permits at freedom parks such as Liwasang Bonifacio, Luneta Park, Bonifacio Shrine, and Plaza Miranda.
He said the local government would study whether to transfer the Malacañang Freedom Park in front of the Palace main gate to another place in line with the government’s planned no-rally zone.
He assured the safety of rally participants as long as their protest actions are held in peaceful and orderly manner.
Bunye, meantime, belittled the attempt of the political opposition to hold bigger rallies against the government.
Also yesterday, the Palace appealed to its detractors to stop peddling baseless rumors of an imminent martial law, insisting the government does not require such extraordinary measure as it remains in control of the country’s security situation.
Ignacio Bunye said the political uncertainties are receding and the country is ready for an economic take-off.
"Rumormongers should lay this martial law rule issue to rest. The security situation is well under control," Bunye said in a statement.
Bunye was trying to allay lingering fears that the President is on the verge of declaring an emergency rule supposedly to crack down on her critics and political dissent.
"Destabilization is ebbing and we are going into normalcy. We are poised for an economic take off as we regain stability within the rule of law," he said.
This developed as two administration solons yesterday allayed public fears of an impending declaration of emergency rule as they said this is totally unwarranted as the Constitution has stringent requirements for the declaration of a national emergency, including the approval by the majority of members of Congress and its review by the Supreme Court.
They also said the Constitution limits any lawful declaration of a state of emergency to at most 60 days.
Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay and Rep. Marcelino Libanan (Lakas, Eastern Samar) said the 1987 Constitution weakened the powers of the President to ensure that there would be no return to the abuses of martial law during the Marcos regime.
