By Raissa Robles
Ex-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her two sons have proposed a law banning rallies outside their mansions.
Her two Congressmen-sons, Diosdado “Dato” Jr. and Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo, joined her as co-authors of House Bill No. 1220 which sought to uphold the right of residents to privacy from mass or concerted actions not directed to the public.”
It was quietly filed shortly after the trio had barely warmed their congressional seats last year. I just stumbled on it while trolling Mikey Arroyo’s page in Congress.
His name does not appear in the original measure but he added it onto his page as one of the bills he co-authored. (You can look at his bills here.)
Their bill seeks to amend the right of citizens to hold peaceful assembly – a right guaranteed by the Constitution. At present, Article 131 of the Revised Penal Code even imposes a short jail sentence on any public officer or employee who interrupts or disperses such assemblies.
Ironically, the Arroyo amendment – which consists of inserting this one long sentence below – will dramatically curtail this right to peaceful assembly.
The Arroyo proposed amendment states that:
Excerpt from House Bill No. 1220 filed by Ex-Pres. now Congresswoman Arroyo, and her sons Congressmen Dato and Mikey Arroyo
Actually, the Arroyos don’t really need this law because they live inside gated private enclaves. Of course if their neighbors rally in front of their gates that’s another matter.
It’s their allies, like Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, who will need this law.
By the way, sidewalks and streets are considered public property unless these are inside private subdivisions like La Vista where Mrs. Arroyo and Mikey Arroyo live.
Don’t be too sure this measure won’t pass. There are many congressmen who would try to sneak this into quiet approval because they, too, will benefit from such a law.
Click on the link below to read the proposed law or download it. Happy reading!
Proposed law banning rallyists in front of the Arroyo mansions (PDF)
alexis xi says
ms raissa, it think rally by a number of persons in front of somebody’s house is quite disturbing, too much democracy for us. hmmm, but respect of privacy is also needed in our country but if the person or a family are rotten ones? it should be done in a case to case basis.
but legislating for a law in congress, i think we should not put it in priority. there are some existing criminal and civil laws applicable in such infractions for the society of law like us in RP. you can file a suits in court if those people’s motives in rallying in front of your house, if necessary.
manuelbuencamino says
Raissa,
My reservation about rallies is kasi nabubulabog pati yung mga kapitbahay na wala namang kasalanan o connection sa issue. Neighbors are entitled to peace and quiet naman.
Okay lang yun rallies sa public spaces.
Having said that, what I don’t understand is why their neighbors don’t move elsewhere.
PJ says
Delusional trio strikes again, don’t they know that she is not the queer este queen of the land anymore?
Nanie Geronimo says
Raissa,
Hilarious if it were not the Resident Evils who wrote the lines. Am sure if the assemblies were like those organized like Fan’s Day, the prohibition will not apply. Thanks for this news bit. Wonder what the congress beat reporters do?
Mike says
and so? anong problema duon? dapat naman talaga ipagbawal ang mga rally sa labas ng bahay ng mga tao. kung may problema kayo sa mga arroyo’s dun kayo sa batasan mag rally sa opisina nila. ikaw ms raissa gusto mu bang may ng r rally sa labas ng bahay mo?
raissa says
No problemo, MIke.
Oo nga pala. Bakit blacklisted ka sa 5 na organizations sa net? Mahilig ka raw mag-spam.
The problem is, it curtails the average citizen’s right to peaceful assembly.
If you do not beware of the chipping away of your freedoms, you will someday find yourself unfree.
what’s wrong with that? Nothing if you are in power. Everything, if you are just a plain citizen.