By ILOILO CITY – Overruled the Bill of Rights of the Philippine Constitution, violated the freedom of expression, disclosure, and assembly – these are the reasons why the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) – Panay condemned the issuance of Executive Order No. 10 by Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas for Dinagyang 2024.
Under said EO, the “display of any and all political slogans or propaganda materials, and anti-government slogans in any form” is prohibited as well as the “conduct of political rallies and anti-government protest under the guise of merry-making activity”. Moreover, the “issuance/grant of rally permit for holding protest rallies for both civilians and government-side groups shall be temporarily suspended during the conduct of 2024 Dinagyang Festival activities”. The EO also said that “political colors” will also not be allowed during the festivity.
Because of this, BAYAN-Panay wasn’t able to conduct its “sadsad protest” this year despite having the props ready, bearing people’s calls like “No to Jeepney Phaseout”, “Free Palestine”, and “Junk Marcos Jr’s Charter Change”.
Despite the banning of “political colors”, Mayor Treñas allowed his co-party politicians, especially Congresswoman Jam-Jam Baronda and USWAG Ilonggo Partylist, to display their posters and faces during the festival’s highlight.
According to BAYAN-Panay, the government should not have stopped the calls of the people, especially since the local executive order overruled the 1987 Philippine Constitution.
It can be noted that a similar order was issued during last year’s Dinagyang Festival 2023 through EO No. 9 series of 2023./PT
