Effigy of Marcos, VP Sara burned ahead of SONA 2024

Rallies began early on Monday, ahead of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr's third State of the Nation Address (SONA). 

According to GMA Integrated News' James Agustin's post on X, an effigy of President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte were burned along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City at around 8 a.m.

Multi-sectoral group sa pangunguna ng BAYAN Southern Tagalog, nagsunog ng effigy bilang bahagi ng kanilang kilos-protesta sa Commonwealth Avenue Quezon City. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/trQyheNWTW

— James Agustin (@_jamesJA) July 21, 2024

The protest was led by multi-sectoral groups, including Bayan Southern Tagalog. 

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said on Saturday that local law enforcers would not arrest anyone who will be caught burning effigies during Marcos' SONA.

“Wala po tayong aarestuhin. In fact, yung binanggit na batas, ang ating QCPD with  regards to effigy, nung pinag-aralan ko po yung batas, it refers to the distance,” said Belmonte.

(We will not arrest anyone. In fact, when I checked on the law regarding effigies, it refers to the distance.)

“So kailangan, kung with 100 meters, bawal po yung magsunog ng effigy. Pero beyond 100 meters, wala naman pong binanggit yung batas na bawal.” she added.

—VAL, GMA Integrated News

READ: Let it burn: SONA effigies past and present