They cannot, however, march to Mendiola.
Usually, the rallies at the Plaza Miranda last only up to 6 p.m., but this time the Manila City Hall allowed the affair to extend until midnight or a total of 16 hours.
"Proclamation rallies do not happen every week or every month, it seldom happens," Richard Zacarias, chief-of-staff at the MCH-Business Promotion and Development Office (BPLO), said.
He added that the organizers could have asked for more time because they still have to set up the stage and sound system.
The Plaza Miranda is considered as a freedom park and can accommodate thousands of people.
The GO originally planned to hold their big gathering in Makati City, a known bailiwick of the opposition. Their second choice was in San Juan, the hometown of deposed President Joseph Estrada, but they could not find the place that would be able to accommodate a very large crowd. They ended up at Plaza Miranda because they reportedly wanted a more historic venue identified with the masses.
The Manila City Hall granted the permit provided that the rallyists do not issue statements that could trigger rebellion. They are also not allowed to walk to Malacañang.
The Manila Police District (MPD), headed by acting district director Senior Superintendent Danilo Abarzosa, will be on hand to maintain peace and order in the area.
"If they march, this would be a violation of the condition and the police can physically stop them," Zacarias added.
Abarzosa said he would deploy a sufficient number of uniformed and civilian policemen and bomb-sniffing dogs to the freedom park to ensure that the event would be orderly.
"We would not allow them to march to Mendiola. I do not think that they have the intention to march," Abarzosa said.
He added that they have started tightening security around Mendiola and other vital installations within the city since Feb. 21 in connection with the 21sth anniversary of the EDSA revolution. – Evelyn Macairan