Rains great equalizer for pro-, anti-Duterte groups

MANILA, Philippines — Moderate to heavy rains in Quezon City dampened both anti-government protesters and supporters of President Duterte during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) yesterday.

The number of demonstrators peaked at around 5,350 people, according to police estimates.

Crowd estimates by rally organizers pegged at 25,000 were lower than last year’s SONA crowds of 40,000 people, still the biggest protest against the Duterte administration so far.

Power was temporarily cut in the vicinity of the Batasang Pambansa complex at around 2 p.m. amid a heavy downpour.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary general Renato Reyes hit police estimates, saying they downplayed the numbers.

When asked if rains dampened the rally, Reyes said it complemented this year’s underwater theme to protest the government’s actions in the West Philippine Sea. 

Militant groups held their version of a United People’s SONA along Commonwealth Avenue.

Reyes said this year’s SONA protest put on centerstage the issue of sovereign rights amid China’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea.

In the pro-administration side, actual crowd turnout by the police was only a fraction of the estimates by organizers.

Police said there were only about 3,500 rallyists, but organizers said they expected around 50,000. 

Bobby Brillante, coordinator for the Duterte Legacy rally, said they staged the program to express continued support for the President. 

He said Duterte has gone “over and above” his campaign promises. They gave the administration a “very good” rating. 

Brillante said no government funds were used for the program as it was mobilized by different volunteer groups supportive of the administration.

SONA peaceful

President Duterte’s fourth SONA was generally peaceful, according to National Capital Region Police Office director Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar.

As of 5 p.m. yesterday, Eleazar said they received no report of untoward incidents before Duterte addressed members of Congress.

Duterte arrived at the Batasang Pambansa complex at 4:58 p.m. on board a presidential helicopter.

Eleazar, overall head of SONA security, lauded the police for doing their job and militant groups for keeping their promise to peacefully express grievances.  

The Northern Police District under Brig. Gen. Rolando Anduyan deployed 2,400 personnel to assist in securing the protest actions during the SONA.

Traffic congestion was the main problem of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in securing the President’s SONA as protesters occupied the southbound lane of Commonwealth Avenue, PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde said.

Police closed five lanes of the highway from the St. Peter’s Parish Church up to IBP Road near the Sandiganbayan.

The entire southbound lane of Commonwealth Avenue was closed to motorists at around noon to make way for the protesters.

Albayalde said while the police did away with barbed wires, they had contingency plans in place. 

An estimated 8,500 police officers were deployed around the Batasan area alone. 

Ranking PNP officials sent off their men for the final security preparations for the SONA not only with instructions of maximum tolerance, but with a song.  –  With Mayen Jaymalin, Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Rhodina Villanueva