Protesters, Marcos supporters to be in separate venues to prevent possible clash —police

There will be separate venues for protesters and supporters of President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos during his inauguration on Thursday to avoid a possible clash, police said.

Manila Police District (MPD) chief Police Brigadier General Leo Francisco said protesters are now asked to use Plaza Miranda while Marcos supporters will use Liwasang Bonifacio.

“Meron po kaming pakiusap ng mga magpro-protesta kung puwede huwag na rito sa Liwasang Bonifacio and sana magkaroon ng magandang output na doon na lang sila sa Plaza Miranda,”  Francisco told reporters.

(We asked protesters not to use Liwasang Bonifacio and I hope they would agree to use Plaza Miranda.)

Police initially designated both supporters and protesters to hold their rallies at freedom parks such as Liwasang Bonifacio, Plaza Miranda, Plaza Dilao, and Plaza Moriones.

Liwasang Bonifacio has a capacity of 5,000 people; Plaza Dilao, 1,000; Plaza Miranda 500 to 700; and Plaza Moriones, 500, according to Francisco.

Police have warned that protesters who will become unruly during Marcos' inauguration will be arrested, citing Public Assembly Act of 1985.

Hours before Marcos' oath-taking at the National Museum of Fine Arts, his supporters, most of them clad in red, have already gathered at Liwasang Bonifacio. Some were wearing face masks with the names of Marcos and Vice President-elect Sara Duterte on them.

Some supporters were sitting inside the tents set up in the area, while other presented dance numbers.

Bayan

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), meanwhile, said it will now hold their protest action at Plaza Miranda at 10 a.m.

In a dialogue with the Manila Police District (MPD), Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes said they decided to change the venue to have a peaceful assembly.

“In consideration of the peaceful holding of the rally program, and to avoid any untoward incident with Marcos supporters, and upon the request of the PNP, we have decided to move our rally venue to Plaza Miranda,” Reyes said.

Reyes said Palaza Miranda “holds historic significance in the anti-dictatorship struggle and is also a designated freedom park.”

In a separate statement, Bayan vowed to held the Marcoses accountable for their abuses and crimes of the dictatorship, “including the recovery of their ill-gotten wealth, the payment of their outstanding estate taxes and the prosecution of their pending cases.”

“To continue fighting historical denialism and distortion and to propagate the historical truths about the Marcos regime, including the nationwide observance of the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law this year,” the group further said.

“To unite with all patriotic and democratic forces and to continue fighting for genuine freedom and democracy and a thoroughgoing change in the socioeconomic and political system to end foreign-backed elite rule in the Philippines,” it continued.

Bayan said it would also fight for socio-economic rights of the people and justice for all the human rights violations.

“The fight for nationalism and democracy will not die with another Marcos in Malacanang. It will burn ever brighter as the people continue to resist, organize and mobilize. Makibaka, huwag matakot!” it further said.

For his part, Police Colonel Raul Tacada, MPD deputy district director for administration, asked individuals who will join the protest rallies to adhere to the guidelines set by the Philippine National Police.

“Inaasahan natin na ang mga sasama mamaya sa Plaza Miranda ay magiging maayos at kung ano man ang kanilang hinaing, ay masabi nila,” Tacada said.

(We are hoping that those who will conduct their rally at Plaza Miranda would comply with the rules and would be able to air their grievances.) —KBK/AOL, GMA News