Bill revokes No Permit No Rally policy of government

Lawmakers have moved to thrash out the No Permit No Rally policy of the
government by filing a bill that abolishes Batas Pambansa Blg. 880, which reuires
people to secure written permit from authorities before they could peaceably assemble in a
public place.
!ouse "ill #$$8, to be known as %he &reedom of '(pression )ct of *0+#,
strengthens the right of the people to free e(pression, peaceably assemble and petition the
government for redress of grievances, said "ayan ,una Reps. Neri -olmenares and
-arlos .sagani /arate.
0,ore often than not,1 -olmenares said, 0authorities invoke the 2No Permit, No
Rally3 rule to 4ustify the dispersal of rallies.1
0%he ,arcos5period Batas Pambansa Bilang 880 has been the convenient e(cuse
for state forces to suppress otherwise peaceful demonstrations, effectively curtailing the
basic constitutional rights to assembly, free speech and petition of government for redress
of grievances,1 -olmenares added.
-olmenares said by repealing the 0,arcosian relic1 law, the bill shall ensure
untrammeled e(ercise of civil rights.
0.ts underlying premise is basic6 the constitutional rights of the people peaceably to
assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances are essential and vital to
the individual and the collective strength and stability of the nation,1 -olmenares said.
7nder the bill, no permit shall be reuired for any person or persons to organi8e and
hold a public assembly in a highway, boulevard, avenue, road, street, bridge or
thoroughfare, park, pla8a, suare and or any open space of public ownership where people
are allowed access.
%he organi8ers and leaders of the public assembly shall, however, inform and
coordinate with the mayor or local authority regarding the agenda and details of the said
assembly.
%hey shall also police their own ranks to prevent non5demonstrators from disrupting
the lawful activities and avert molestation by demonstrators of the people not participating
in the public assembly.
%he bill prohibits law enforcement authorities from interfering with the holding of a
public assembly but mandates them to adeuately ensure public safety by deploying a
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MAY 10, 2014
contingent under the command of a responsible police officer. %he police contingent shall
be stationed at least *00 meters away from the area of the activity.
%he bill also prohibits the dispersal of a public assembly unless such becomes
actually violent.
/arate said under the bill, no personal could be punished or held criminally liable
for participating in a public assembly.
0No leader, organi8er or participant shall be arrested during the public assembly and
no ta( shall be imposed upon any means or media used and owned by private individuals
for e(pression as defined herein,1 /arate said.
%he bill slaps violators of the act with seven year of imprisonment and perpetual
disualification from public office. 9#0: mrs