PNP to allow protests in UP Diliman for SONA

The Philippine National Police (PNP) will allow protest actions within the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman campus for President Duterte's fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA).

PNP chief Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa advised the UP administration to police their own ranks, stating that UP campuses are off-limits to government law enforcers unless requested.

Gamboa mentioned that the PNP could only wait for a request for assistance to augment the UP Police force in implementing quarantine rules during the protest action.

Protest actions are permitted within UP campuses provided that organizers coordinate with campus management.

Based on the PNP security plan, protesters are banned from holding rallies on Commonwealth Avenue and are advised to go to UP Diliman Campus instead.

An estimated 10,000 protesters from around 90 groups flocked to the "SONAGkaisa" rally at UP's Quezon City campus last Monday, despite a ban on mass gatherings.

Gamboa urged UP not to "exercise its chartered independence too much" and to police its own activities.

The PNP will only be there to react if needed.