Puno, at the same time, reminded local government units (LGUs) to act on the application for a rally permit within two working days as mandated by Batas Pambansa 880.

Otherwise, he said, the permit is deemed granted if the LGU fails to act on the application within the given period.

According to the Secretary, the PNP’s lack of information on the status of the action taken by concerned LGUs on applications for mass actions has often led to confusion and misunderstanding between law enforcers and rally organizers.

"The problem begins when the PNP cannot determine the date the application for the rally was submitted and no one can tell when the application was received, if it was acted upon or when the grace period has lapse," Puno said, adding, "that’s why I am suggesting that if you apply for a rally permit, you give the PNP a copy so our police officers would know when the 48-hour grace period ends and the clock starts ticking."

Puno also noted the confusion spawned when rally organizers obtain a permit to assemble in a given area but proceed to march to an adjoining town or city where they failed to get a permit to hold mass actions.

The DILG chief said the PNP’s operating procedures during rallies or demonstrations and the setting up of checkpoints would be the focus of the study to be made by a fiveman standing review committee he had formed in his capacity as chairman of the National Police Commission (Napolcom). (ELA)