Palace says up to private sector to suspend work, classes on Sept. 21

September 19, 2017

Malacanang said on Tuesday it is up to the private sector if it will suspend work and classes on September 21, which President Rodrigo Duterte declared as a "National Day of Protest."

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea will issue a memorandum circular suspending work in government offices, both national and local, as well as classes in all public schools, state colleges and universities.

"Regarding private companies, suspension of work in private companies and classes in private schools in the affected areas is left to the discretion of their respective heads," he said.

Duterte has said September 21 will not be a holiday, but he was suspending work in government and classes so people could participate in the rallies.

Abella said the National Day of Protest as "set aside for people to exercise their constitutional rights to freedom of speech, peaceful assembly and to seek redress for their grievances against the government past or present."

The Palace directed the law enforcement authorities to stay away from mass actions and to exercise maximum restraint, unless their intervention is necessary to maintain public order.

He said some government agencies will be required to provide standby emergency assistance near sites of protest actions.

September 21 is also the 45th anniversary of the declaration of martial law of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Critics of the administration are planning to hold demonstrations nationwide on that day to condemn some policies of the government, particularly on the war of drugs, resulting to deaths of thousands of drug suspects. Celerina Monte/DMS