ILOILO City – Instead of gathering to hold protest actions, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 urged protesters to air their grievances for President Rodrigo Duterte’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) online.
Police Colonel Gilbert Gorero, PRO-6 spokesperson, made the appeal as he noted the existing guidelines of the government’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) task force limiting mass gatherings amid the pandemic.
“We encourage protesters to use social media as an alternative venue subject to the limitations of laws,” said Gorero.
Freedom of expression and public health should be tightly balanced in this time of the pandemic, he added.
Gorero said that PRO-6 will activate task group “SONA 2020” in coordination with other concerned government agencies.
President Rodrigo Duterte is to physically deliver his fifth SONA at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday, July 27.
“PRO-6 is in full alert status and uniformed personnel will be deployed in all places of convergence to maintain orderliness and to ensure that health protocols are being observed,” Gorero said.
Western Visayas remains under “medium risk” modified general community quarantine until the end of the month.
The Philippine National Police also earlier urged groups to stage their protests online.
During Duterte’s fifth SONA, only a maximum of 50 people will be allowed inside the venue./PN
