The Palace called on protesters Monday afternoon “to exercise discipline and sobriety as they exercise their right to peacefully assemble.”
Earlier Monday, activists with Bagong Alyansang Makabayan clashed with police as they tried to get past a barricade meant to keep them away from Batasan Pambansa, where President Benigno Aquino III is scheduled to give his State of the Nation Address.
The clash, which happened after activists ran up the southbound lane of Commonwealth Avenue, brought traffic to a standstill. Traffic along the road was already slow because of rerouting for SONA.
“We call on all of them to bear in mind the inconveniences their actions may cause the general public,” he said.
Renato Reyes, Bayan secretary general, said on his Twitter that at least 41 were injured in the clash. He said 10 had been brought to East Avenue Medical Center and that two of those injured were senior citizens.
In an interview over the ABS-CBN News Channel, Chief Superintendent Marcelo Garbo Jr. of the National Capital Region Police Office, said police were “really disappointed” that activists tried to slip past their lines.
He said police were hoping for peaceful protests, offering protesters flowers and balloons. “But then again the rallyists just disregarded this offer of peace for them,” he said.
Garbo said police hoped activists would stay in front of Ever-Gotesco mall on Commonwealth, where SONA protests have been “traditionally” held over the years.
Reyes said, though, that the flowers were offered “after they deployed thousands, with trucks and razor wires.”
“Wolves in sheep’s clothing,” Reyes also said on Twitter.
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File Photo: SONA in 2012
