Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Members of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan stage a protest outside the House of Representatives in Quezon City on Friday, September 5, 2025, as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) presents its proposed 2026 budget before the Committee on Appropriations. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177172968359517702001780231757249650255viber_image_2025-09-05_13-38-42-418.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Members of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan stage a protest outside the House of Representatives in Quezon City on Friday, September 5, 2025, as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) presents its proposed 2026 budget before the Committee on Appropriations.<em> Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — A dictatorship-era policy requiring government permission for rallies will not keep activists from marching on EDSA in protest as part of the commemoration of the People Power event that removed Ferdinand Marcos Sr. from power, they said over the weekend.</p><p>The Quezon City government and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority have declared the EDSA Shrine and part of the historic highway a rally-free zone, with only the multi-sectoral ’Trillion Peso March’ given a permit for a program at the People Power Monument more than a kilometer down the road.</p><p>Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, which is planning a march on EDSA on February 25, said it is &quot;rejecting&quot; the prohibition and called it &quot;antithetical to the very spirit of EDSA.&quot; </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/20/trillion-peso-march-organizer-impeach-calls-welcome-but-not-main-protest-theme-1353">Trillion Peso March organizer: Impeach calls welcome but not main protest theme<br/></a></div><p>In a statement, Bayan president Renato Reyes Jr. said groups with Bayan &quot;will celebrate people power, not police power, not state power, not the fascist measures of an isolated regime based on a legal remnant of the Marcos dictatorship.&quot;</p><p>Batas Pambansa 880, which was passed in 1985, limits public assemblies to designated freedom parks.</p><p>Protests and activities outside those areas require permits and alleged violation of BP880 is a common charge that police file against activists and protesters.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/30/-no-permit-no-rally-pnp-halts-stage-setup-for-luneta-protest-0748">‘No Permit, No Rally’: PNP halts stage setup for Luneta protest<br/></a></div><p>&quot;We cannot commemorate EDSA by limiting freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly as if we are still in the dark years of the dictatorship,&quot; Reyes said.</p><p>&quot;Those trying to curtail peaceful assembly have not learned any of the lessons of EDSA.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>LEODY DE GUZMAN: BAN RAISES DOUBTS ABOUT ADMIN</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>In a separate post, Leody De Guzman of Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino said the declaration was unusual since gatherings had been allowed at and near the EDSA Shrine in the past.</p><p>He added the ban may have unintended consequences for the government. </p><p>&quot;Titibay at titibay ang paniniwala ng mamamayan na talagang kasangkot ang Malacañang sa naganap na nakawan noong nakaraang taon sa flood control project,&quot; he said.</p><p>(This will bolster the belief that Malacañang was really involved in the corruption in the flood control projects) </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/30/as-protesters-return-to-ppm-and-luneta-what-has-happened-since-september-21-1142">RELATED: What has happened since the September 21 People Power Monument and Luneta rallies?<br/></a></div><p>He also stressed that the 1987 Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and assembly.</p><p>&quot;Pinayagan naman ang mga magra-rally doon sa White Plains, bakit naman hindi papayagan ang magra-rally sa EDSA Shrine?&quot; he said.</p><p>(They allowed people to hold a rally at White Plains, why won&#x27;t they allow it at the EDSA Shrine?)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>QC: NO PERMITS FOR &#x27;SEDITIOUS&#x27; GROUPS<br/></strong></div><div><br/></div><p>QC public safety department head Elmo San Diego has been quoted in news reports as saying authorities would not grant permits to groups who &quot;want to overthrow the government.&quot;</p><p>“Parang hindi naman tama yan. At hindi papayag ang (Quezon City Police District) na ang direksyon ng rally niyo ay sort of saying seditious,” he said.</p><p>(That doesn&#x27;t seem right. And the QCPD will not allow a rally that is sort of seditious)</p><p>He added organizations with &quot;bad records&quot; would not be given permits.</p><p>Bayan, in its statement, said its &quot;commemoration of EDSA teaches us that real power lies with the people, not with politicians — especially those engaged in horse-trading and political accommodation based on narrow interests.&quot;  </p><p>In a separate statement, youth group Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan questioned what they said was an attempt to &#x27;gatekeep&#x27;, or control access to, the EDSA commemoration.</p><p>&quot;The plunderers did not seek permission when they stole from us so why should we seek permission to converge at EDSA with placards that express the true sentiment of our people?&quot; the group said. <strong>— Jonathan de Santos, ABS-CBN News</strong></p>

<p>The Quezon City government and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority have declared the EDSA Shrine a rally-free zone, with only the multi-sectoral ’Trillion Peso March’ given a permit for a program at the People Power Monument more than a kilometer down the road.</p>

The Quezon City government and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority have declared the EDSA Shrine a rally-free zone, with only the multi-sectoral ’Trillion Peso March’ given a permit for a program at the People Power Monument more than a kilometer down the road.

‘No-rally zone’ under Marcos Sr.-era law violates EDSA spirit — groups

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‘No-rally zone’ under Marcos Sr.-era law violates EDSA spirit — groups

ABS-CBN News

Published February 22, 2026 11:53 AM PHT

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EDSA

EDSA Shrine

EDSA People Power

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