MALACAÑANG yesterday declared Sept. 21, the 45th anniversary of the martial law declaration of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, as a “National Day of Protest” even as it ordered the suspension of work in all government offices and all public schools tomorrow.
The Palace said class and work suspensions in private schools and companies are left to the discretion of their respective heads.
Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said, “The President has announced Sept. 21, 2017 as a National Day of Protest, a day set aside for people to exercise their constitutional rights to freedom of speech, peaceful assembly and to seek redress for their grievances against the government past and present.”
But Abella said Thursday is not a special non-working holiday.
Tomorrow marks the 45th anniversary of the declaration of martial law by Marcos, and various groups have announced they would be staging massive demonstrations across the country.
Meanwhile, Abella reiterated Malacañang’s policy of maximum restraint.
“Law enforcement authorities are directed to stay away from mass actions and to exercise maximum restraint unless their intervention is necessary to maintain public order,” he said.
“Certain government agencies shall be required to provide emergency assistance near sites of protest actions,” Abella said. (pna)
Disclaimer
Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.
