23/09/2025
๐๐๐๐๐๐|๐ธ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ฃ| ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐๐: ๐ด๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐๐ by Janina Kaye O. Pua
Every voice counts, and every march is a step toward progress. To suppress the people's voices is to deny good governance. The Filipino people are rightfully enraged following recent anomalies in flood control projects involving numerous people in power. The Department of Finance recently declared that the estimated economic loss from "ghost projects" could be as high as 118.5 billion pesos, money that was stripped away from municipalities and provinces that were left vulnerable to typhoons. It's no surprise that this rage has turned into protests and rallies across the nationโnot as an act of violence, but as a demand for change.
Amidst these assemblies, the Philippine National Police is strictly enforcing a "no permit, no rally" policy in the name of "peace and order." This was also explicitly stated in the Fourth State of the Nation Address by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. This policy is a cage for the people's right to free expression. It is absurd that a country that calls itself democratic demands permission for its citizens to call out an unjust and corrupt system.
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Rallies are being held to fight the never-ending corruption in the Philippines. Filipinos demand accountability and justice. For years, despite the alleged dishonesty of the government and the disappearance of billions of pesos from citizens' taxes, no one has been held liable. The nation has had enough of these schemes that benefit the self-interests of those in power.
Filipinos put in endless effort to make ends meet, often working eight hours a day, five days a week, with little time to rest. While their exhaustion might be bearable, their hard-earned money vanishing into thin air, flying straight into the pockets of "tuxedos and luxury cars," is unacceptable. And now, voicing their disappointments is considered unlawful. A recent study by IBON Foundation showed that the daily minimum wage of โฑ610 is not enough for a family of five to meet their basic needs, which now requires over โฑ1,200 per day. The wage gap only highlights the injustice of public funds being stolen.
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The "no permit, no rally" policy is based on Batas Pambansa Blg. 880, also known as the Public Assembly Act of 1985, which was declared during the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. The law requires a written permit from a local government unit before any public assembly can be held.
However, Article 3, Section 4 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution is clear: "No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances." Therefore, the policy directly contradicts the country's own Constitution. It is questionable why this law, enacted before Filipinos' constitutional rights were fully established, has not yet been abolished, as it clearly restrains the liberty to seek justice and accountability.
While the procedure of obtaining a permit is meant to ensure public order and safety, it is widely believed to be a tool to justify the dispersal of rallies, hindering the exercise of constitutional rights. Framing peaceful assemblies as threats to order denies the reality that most rallies are conducted responsibly and lawfully. According to authorities, recent protests have been generally peaceful. These assemblies resist the violence committed by corruption, negligence, and and injustice.
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This policy re-echoes the dictatorial practices of the Marcos Sr. regime, where public dissent was heavily controlled. The Filipino people's right to speak, disagree, and voice their frustration is once again under siege. The freedom that took so long to attain is slowly being taken away.
The "no permit, no rally" policy is nothing but an act of repression. It does not align with the Constitution and serves only to silence the complaints of millions of Filipinos. Despite these obstacles, Filipinos continue to stand for their rights and for the future of the nation, showcasing true patriotism. Hopefully, more people will realize that protests are not acts of chaos, but expressions of hope and courage. For in every raised voice and every march forward lies the people's unyielding demand for justice, accountability, and a better Philippines.
Editorial Cartoon by Steaphiene Kirvy S. Derla