Orendain to rally supporters: review your own ordinances
After the mass publicity on the supposed rally of the Akbayan group in front of the Sangguniang Panlungsod last January 28, City Administrator Antonio Orendain Jr. broke his silence to set the records straight.
Contrary to claims by the organizer that City Hall released the permit at the last minute, Orendain said the request for permit came in at 2 p.m. of January 27 and the response came out also the very day.
“I heard over the radio that (Akbayan leader) Prof. Araojo claimed that we gave the permit at the last minute, but on record we received their request for a permit January 27 at 2p.m. so we released the permit that very day,” the city administrator attested.
The permit, he said, stated among others that the city could not allow the holding of the assembly along R.T. Lim Boulevard fronting the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) last January 28 on grounds that the Council’s maiden session where the State of the City Report will be delivered, were to be held at the SP building whereby visitors are expected to attend the same.
“As expected a lot of visitors will be coming to the City Council and for which the security plans have been drawn and cannott be changed. Further to this, traffic along the area is also expected to be very heavy and security reason is our most concern. Nonetheless, please be informed that permit is given to your group to hold an assembly at the Nuno freedom park located in front of Camp Batalla and beside the Philippine Ports Authority elevated area,” Orendain continued, reading the permit he issued.
Orendain stressed that the local papers quoted Mr. Araojo as saying that the entire stretch of the R.T. Lim Boulevard is the Freedom Park. The same statement was issued over a local radio station by Vice Mayor Manuel Dalipe, insinuating that the Akbayan group can rally in the area requested, according to Orendain.
“Sad to say that ordinance 280 which was co-authored by Hon. Manuel Jose M. Dalipe, who is now our vice mayor, ta abla ki in section 2, by virtue of this ordinance, the west to east lane along the shoreline portion of R.T. Lim Boulevard starting from the junction of Don Navarro road up to the junction of Alejo Alvarez and the adjoining J. Nuno freedom park are hereby designated and established as the freedom park,” the city administrator said, citing the ordinance.
He likewise refuted Councilor Juan Climaco Elago’s statement in the newspapers declaring that people can demonstrate anytime and that they are free to express their opinion even without a permit.
“Again sad to say that in ordinance 280 authored by Hon. Juan Climaco Elago II, specifically section 4 states that all other rallies, assemblies, or gatherings or any other forms of peaceful assembly in any other place, plaza or park, other than the freedom park, shall need a mayor’s permit before such event or activities is allowed,” Orendain said. He continued: “And so I think they have to review their own ordinances” before issuing statements to the media.
As this developed, City Police OIC Director Col. Edwin de Ocampo emphasized that maximum tolerance was exercised in dealing with the more or less 50 demonstrators.
The small group of demonstrators was peacefully dispersed after they insisted on marching through the R.T. Lim boulevard from the area in front of the grandstand. (Sheila Covarrubias)