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 as a result of Duterte’s open letter—whereby the previous chief claimed that motion into Tacloban Metropolis was interrupted because of the administration’s coverage of stifling dissent—they checked the totally 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 except for Hurricane Aghon which moved close to the jap portion of the nation, Acidre stated that the Maisug rally didn’t push by as a result of the vehicles that Duterte supporters claimed had been parked on the Remedios Trinidad Romualdez (RTR) Plaza had been truly a part of a roadshow for heavy gear equipment.
The roadshow, the lawmaker stated, requested for a allow as early as Could 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 start 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 acquired is that they didn’t apply for a allow,” Acidre, whose Tingog party-list relies in instructed 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’ll use the liberty park,” he added.
Acidre additionally downplayed Duterte and his supporters’ declare that the airport tickets had been purchased so that individuals can not 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 believe 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 Hurricane Aghon.
“I’m scripting this open letter to the folks of Tacloban in mild of latest occasions which have brought on inconvenience, discomfort and disruption of their lives,” the previous president stated.
“All these locations and actions have one factor in frequent: the Maisug Rally scheduled on Could 25, 2024. As a part of the Marcos administration’s coverage of stifling peaceable dissent, they’re doing every thing to stop this rally from occurring,” he added.
No prayer rally
Acidre stated deciding to permit using the RTR ultimately for the Maisug rally will probably 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 after all, as we stated, there are guidelines that we’ve got 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, generally 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 sort of occasion, as the previous president has always 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 identify in organising prayer rallies within the guise of private or political aims.
