• President Aquino orders Roxas to ensure orderly, peaceful INC protest
• Palace on planned ‘zero vote’ campaign: OFWs could freely choose their leaders

The President specifically wanted the ongoing mass action to become orderly, peaceful and not disrupt other people who are not part of the mass action, Valte told dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

“At alam ko nasa Camp Crame sila ngayon, kakatapos lang nilang magpulong, at pinag-usapan nila kung ano ba ang way forward dahil doon sa mga nagiging kilos protesta diyan sa EDSA-Shaw,” she said.

The Palace spokesperson also said they have been informed that the local government of Mandaluyong has issued a permit to the protesters, noting the permit had corresponding conditions.

With regards to heavy traffic caused by the protest in the EDSA-Shaw area, she said they have been monitoring the situation since last night.

“The President’s instructions were to ensure the safety of the public including… Not just those who were involved in the protest, but more importantly, those who are uninvolved in the protest,” she said.

“The President mentioned specifically that government should ensure—at least, the executive branch—should ensure that there are no opportunities for those who may want to take advantage of the situation for their personal end.”

Valte also brushed off allegations that the government is harassing INC because it does want to support Roxas in his political bid.

She explained that there is a legitimate complaint filed in DOJ against some INC personalities and the DOJ has not acted on it so the harassment accusation has no basis.

“Hindi po natin alam kung ano itong sinasabing —o nako-construe na harassment na ito. But, in any case, naka-focus tayo dito ngayon doon sa sitwasyon diyan sa EDSA-Shaw at sa katunayan ay kakatapos lang ng kanilang meeting,” Valte said.

Asked how the government intends to respond to end the rally, she said the government follows certain processes if there is a legitimate complaint filed against somebody.

“Kahit sino pa ho ang inirereklamo, isa lang ang proseso diyan, at katulad nga ng sinabi ni Secretary De Lima this process has to be followed,” Valte said. PND (as)

“Karapatan po nilang mamili kung sino po ang gusto nilang iboto sa darating na eleksyon,” Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said during a radio interview on Saturday about the planned campaign.

“Ang inaasahan lang po natin ay, siyempre, mababase po ito sa plataporma; mababase po ito doon sa ano po ba ‘yung ikagaganda pa ng ating bansa, at ‘yung ikabubuti pa ng buhay ng ating mga pamilya,” she told dzRB Radyo Ng Bayan.
“Kalayaan natin lahat ‘yan, kung paano po natin sasalain ang ating mga kandidato.”

OFWs are furious over a new Customs policy on balikbayan boxes. The Bureau of Customs said balikbayan boxes are being used as a means to smuggle goods or ship illegal narcotics.

Valte said OFWs are free to express their sentiments on any issue like the one on balikbayan boxes.

The Palace official also said that because of the balikbayan box issue, they got a lot of messages from different parts of the world.
“At ang lagi ko pong sinasabi sa kanila ay malaya silang ipahayag ang kanilang mga saloobin whether they join a ‘no remittance day’ or they may send government a message on Facebook or they can post their sentiments online or magpa-interview sila sa media,” she said.

According to the central bank, the zero remittance day has no significant impact on the economy but migrant groups warned of more mass actions against plans to tighten rules on balikbayan boxes. PND (as)