SEVERAL youth groups protested in front of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) on February 25 despite the city’s “no permit, no rally” policy announced by City of Manila Mayor Maria Sheilah “Honey” Lacuna-Pangan. 

Lacuna announced last Feb. 19 that the policy’s effectivity will be on the day of the People Power anniversary, which commemorates the millions of Filipinos that trooped along the stretch of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) against the dictatorial rule of former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. 

The mayor added that groups may still rally in designated areas, like the freedom or people’s parks, where permits are not needed.  

Despite the policy, organizations including Anakbayan UST, Panday Sining UST, Kabataan Partylist UST, League of Filipino Students UST, and Tindig UST-Faculty of Arts and Letters still assembled around the UST campus to condemn the recent cases of ‘student repression’ by the UST administration, which they said is reminiscent of the late dictator Marcos Sr.’s rule. 

Anakbayan UST Chairperson Allen Marc Ballesteros said they initiated the protest due to the worsening crisis inside the university. 

“Our courage does not come from thin air but is rooted in our collective effort and unity with the students to fight for genuine academic freedom and democratic rights,” Ballesteros said. 

He added that earlier protests, including the People Power revolution that was being remembered, did not need a permit in the first place. 

“What I see in this policy is the weaponization of bureaucracy against the people's right to assembly,” he said.   

According to the Public Assembly Act of 1985, protesters have the constitutional right to peacefully gather in government-mandated freedom parks and public places even without a permit. 

In Section 3(b), public places include “any highway, boulevard, avenue, road, street, bridge, or other thoroughfare, park, plaza, square, and/or any open space of public ownership where the people are allowed access.” 

The youth leader mentioned that the policy is a reminder of the continuing effects of Marcos Sr.’s reign, 38 years even after he was ousted through the People Power revolution. 

“The right to peaceful assembly is enshrined in our constitution whether or not it is against the student handbook or no permit no rally policy,” Ballesteros claimed.  

Since 1987, the EDSA People Power anniversary was celebrated annually as a holiday, not until last year, when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., son of the ousted dictator, declared the anniversary no longer a national holiday.  

As of writing, the Office of the City of Manila Mayor and the Manila Police District have not responded to Manila Forefront’s request to comment on these protests.