14 activists charged over SONA protestsThe QCPD filed the complaint after it learned from the Quezon City department of public order and safety on Aug. 14 that a permit to conduct a rally was not issued to the militant leaders’ groups for the July 24 anti-SONA rally. MANILA, Philippines — Criminal complaints were filed by the police against 14 leaders of cause-oriented groups for staging rallies during the second State of the Nation (SONA) of President Marcos without allegedly securing a permit from the local government. The leaders of the militant groups were charged by the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) for violation of Batas Pambansa 880 or the Public Assembly Act. Reyes also condemned the QCPD for filing complaints against the creators of an effigy that was burned during the SONA. “This case is clearly repression hiding behind feigned concern for the environment,” he said in a statement.
