MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Sunday reminded the public that while their right to air grievances and hold demonstrations are respected and upheld, protest rallies should be done within the bounds of the law.
Various groups from different sectors launched mass protest rallies to denounce the large-scale corruption surrounding the government’s flood control projects.
In a television interview, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said that protesters have an obligation to follow the rule of law.
“Again we say to all our countrymen, you are free to express your views. Your rights will not be violated by the President, by the government. The President really values human rights, so you are free to express yourself. Just don’t abuse or violate the law because if you have human rights, you also have an obligation to obey the law,” Castro said in Filipino.
The official added that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is closely monitoring the situation on the ground.
“Definitely, the President is monitoring what’s happening because peace and order is needed, and the protest also needs to be peaceful. So, you can expect the President to be updated. That’s why he did not push through with his trip so that he could also know and hear what’s going on,” Castro noted.
Marcos was supposed to fly to the United States for the high-level discussions in the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York. He sent Foreign Affairs Secretary Teresa Lazaro to represent him so he could “focus on local issues.”
