MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker has countered claims from former president Rodrigo Duterte and his supporters that the federal government is intentionally attempting to cease the holding of a Maisug rally in Tacloban Metropolis, saying that there have been different occasions who reserved the venue first.
Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre in a radio interview on Monday defined that because of Duterte’s open letter—whereby the previous chief claimed that motion into Tacloban Metropolis was interrupted as a result of administration’s coverage of stifling dissent—they checked the completely different points talked about.
READ: Duterte slams ‘deliberate’ efforts to cease ‘Maisug’ rally in Tacloban
Tacloban is the bailiwick of Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez’ household—the place the maternal aspect of Romualdez’s cousin, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., originates.
However apart from Storm Aghon which moved close to the jap portion of the nation, Acidre stated that the Maisug rally didn’t push by way of as a result of the vans that Duterte supporters claimed had been parked on the Remedios Trinidad Romualdez (RTR) Plaza had been really a part of a roadshow for heavy gear equipment.
The roadshow, the lawmaker stated, requested for a allow as early as Might 10. These organizing the Maisug rally in the meantime didn’t ask for a allow—solely a discover that they are going to be utilizing the liberty park.
READ: Too early for politics? Solons query prayer rallies attended by Duterte
Didn’t apply for a allow
“To begin with, the difficulty with the venue, we had been in a position to unearth that—as a result of we checked on the previous president’s claims within the open letter which said that they weren’t allowed to stage a rally. However the info we obtained is that they didn’t apply for a allow,” Acidre, whose Tingog party-list relies in informed radio community DZRH.
“Their letter to the provincial authorities which manages the liberty park is that they’re solely giving a discover—they stated that ‘we’re notifying’ that they may use the liberty park,” he added.
Acidre additionally downplayed Duterte and his supporters’ declare that the airport tickets had been purchased so that folks can’t attend the Maisug rally.
“With the airport, we’re clarifying that as early as April we’re having a tough time with tickets,” Acidre stated.
“I feel nobody has the capability to purchase all of the tickets simply to cease folks from visiting an space,” he added.
Duterte on Sunday launched an open letter saying that he believes there was actually a deliberate intent to cease the Maisug rally, even with out Storm Aghon.
“I’m scripting this open letter to the folks of Tacloban in gentle of current occasions which have triggered inconvenience, discomfort and disruption of their lives,” the previous president stated.
“All these locations and actions have one factor in widespread: the Maisug Rally scheduled on Might 25, 2024. As a part of the Marcos administration’s coverage of stifling peaceable dissent, they’re doing all the pieces to stop this rally from occurring,” he added.
No prayer rally
Acidre stated deciding to permit the usage of the RTR ultimately for the Maisug rally shall be as much as the provincial authorities, however he additionally famous that the rallies—which have been dubbed as prayer rallies—haven’t been about prayers in any respect.
“That’s the proper of Filipinos, of our folks to air their sentiments or their advocacies […] however in fact, as we stated, there are guidelines that we’ve to comply with,” he stated.
“However for us, we maintain our former president Rody Duterte in excessive regard, I hope his allies and followers don’t use this rally as a platform to degrade the dignity of our revered leaders. We noticed it within the different Maisug rallies eh, typically there are extra curses used than… I’ve not heard any prayer,” he added.
This isn’t the primary time that the intent of the prayer rallies had been questioned by lawmakers. Final March, La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega stated he doesn’t perceive the idea of a prayer rally turning into a unique form of occasion, as the previous president has consistently used them to assault the administration.
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Aklan Rep. Teodorico Haresco in the meantime urged personalities within the rally to chorus from utilizing God’s title in organising prayer rallies within the guise of private or political goals.
