In a statement, Lakas-CMD Reps. Mauricio Domogan (Baguio City), Lorna Silverio (Bulacan), and Monico Puentevella said these Freedom Parks have been designated to prevent street protests from disturbing peace and order and blocking traffic, and to protect the rights of the majority.
The lawmakers urged the publication of the list of Freedom Parks after participants in last Friday’s prayer rally in Plaza Miranda, Quiapo, tried to proceed to Malacañang Palace, the official residence of President Arroyo. They assailed the rallyists’ claim that it was a purely religious activity.
Domogan, vice chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments, said Mendiola St. leading to Malacañang was not included in the permit granted for the religious procession.
"With due respect, the procession was an ill-disguised anti-GMA activity. The pre-procession activity at Plaza Miranda belies the claim of the rallyists that it was mainly a religious procession. Where is their sincerity when everyone in the procession assailed President Arroyo first before going on with the march to Malacañang?" asked Domogan.
Police Senior Supt. Danilo Abarsoza, deputy commander of the Manila Police District and a ground commander in last Friday’s procession- rally, had earlier said the agreement between the police and the rallyists was that the latter will be allowed only from Plaza Miranda in Quiapo until San Sebastian Church at Plaza del Carmen, which is near Malacañang.
Silverio, chairman of the House Committee on Inter-parliamentary Relations and Diplomacy, said she received information last night that if the rallyists had successfully penetrated police ranks within the vicinity of Malacañang, the protesters planned to stay and occupy the area as a sign of political protest.
"The President or Manila Mayor Lito Atienza must be firm in enforcing a ban on rallies near Malacañang Palace. Rizal Park or Plaza Miranda are the best places for their political prayer rallies," she added.
It is lamentable that President Arroyo’s critics are using religion as an excuse to protest against the President," said Silverio.
Silverio said the PNP should immediately issue the list of freedom parks designated as rally sites to prevent street protests from further inconveniencing many people, noting the big traffic jam that resulted in last Friday night’s rally.
Puentevella, chairman of the Committee on Transportation, said the availability of Freedom Parks as rally sites can assure the conduct of protest activities without causing inconvenience to the public, including motorists and pedestrians.
"No one is above the law. What is applicable to militants should also be applied to anyone, including priests or nuns or political leaders, as long as they do not follow the rules. Mendiola was not included in the permit granted for the religious procession last Friday night. They followed the law," said Puentevella.
Puentevella said the demonstrators’ fear of martial law is baseless, unfounded, and pointless.
"They should stop using the issue of emergency rule to hit the President or to delude people into joining rallies. It will not be declared, and we, in Congress, will not allow it."
