To ensure order and public safety during the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ summit this November, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued guidelines on the conduct of public assemblies and rallies in public places during this major international event.
To all those who would like to hold public assemblies during the week-long leaders summit, the “No Permit, No Rally” rule will be applied.
DILG Secretary Mel Senen S. Sarmiento said that “although our laws ensure the free exercise of the people’s right to peaceably assemble and petition the government, we would like to reiterate that we have to observe proper guidelines including seeking permits to conduct public rallies.”
Sarmiento said that any mayor or official acting on his behalf may issue a permit to rally. However, permits may be denied in cases where there is convincing evidence that the assembly will inconvenience the public or put the public in danger.
He said that a written permit is not required only when the public assembly will be done in a freedom park established by law or ordinance or in a private property, in which case only the consent of the owner is required.
Likewise, a written permit is no longer necessary if the assembly will be made in the campus of a government owned and operated education institution subject to the rules and regulation of the school or campus.
Sarmiento said while the PNP and law enforcement agencies will be in-charge of securing the APEC leaders, mayors must help in maintaining peace and order by observing the proper guidelines to ensure the safety of those who will join the rallies.
[Read: Government advisories regarding the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week]
Mayors or any official acting on his behalf may designate the route or re-route vehicular traffic so that there will be no undue obstruction in the free flow and use of public highway, boulevard, avenue, road, or street for a reasonable length of time, he added.
Under the Local Government Code, mayors can also temporary close any national or local road, alley, park, or square during public rallies and temporary closure must be pursuant to a duly enacted ordinance.
The DILG chief also directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to strictly observe “maximum tolerance policy” and respect the human rights of people during a public assembly even during dispersal.
Sarmiento said the PNP shall at all times be mindful of their duty to keep the peace and provide proper protection to those exercising their right to peaceful assembly.
Malacanang has earlier announced that more than 10 economic leaders have already confirmed attendance to the 2015 APEC Summit in Manila, including United States President Barack Obama, Russia President Vladimir Putin, as well as Indonesia President Joko Widodo, Mexico President Enrique Peña Nieto, Chile President Michelle Bachelet, and newly sworn-in Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau.
– From the Department of the Interior and Local Government
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