Tensions rise as activists vow to defy Iloilo protest ban during Dinagyang Festival

ILOILO, Philippines – Activists have slammed Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Tren̈as for issuing an executive order banning protest rallies and political displays in time for the 57th Dinagyang Festival, calling it a blatant violation of constitutional rights.

Several groups threatened to ignore Tren̈as’ order, pledging to hold a series of protests during the Dinagyang festivities to highlight critical issues in the city toward the last week of January.

The progressive group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) in Panay decried Executive Order No. 167, which prohibits protest actions, anti-government policy slogans, and election-related materials from January 9 to 26.

In a statement, Bayan-Panay described the order as a direct assault on Filipinos’ rights to free speech, peaceful assembly, and freedom of expression. The group warned that such measures set a dangerous precedent, silencing dissent under the guise of maintaining order during a cultural event.

The group criticized Tren̈as for the move which they see as undermining the very freedoms that Ilonggos are supposed to celebrate during the festival.

“In the guise of ‘safety and security,’ the mayor’s EO 167… effectively silences critical voices and bans political expressions during the Dinagyang Festival,” part of the statement read.

Bayan and other cause-oriented groups threatened to defy Tren̈as’ order, vowing to stage protests during the Dinagyang festivities to spotlight urgent issues in Iloilo. 

Organized Indigenous Tumandoks, for instance, plan to protest the P19.7-billion Jalaur River Multipurpose Project (JRMP) in Calinog, Iloilo, citing its impact on their ancestral lands. 

Another group, jeepney drivers and operators were organizing a rally against the controversial Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), which they claim adversely affected their livelihoods. 

Meanwhile, market vendors displaced by the modernization and privatization of Iloilo City’s Central Market are expected to voice their grievances. 

For his part, Tren̈as said all he wants is for the Dinagyang to showcase Ilonggos’ faith, culture, and sense of community, keeping the festivities free from political influence.

“Let us remember that this celebration is about faith, culture, and community,” he said.

The EO specifically outlines the following prohibitions:

• Political slogans and propaganda: Display of any political or anti-government slogans in any form is prohibited.
• Election materials near festival competition judging areas: Election-related materials, including printed or visual items featuring candidates or parties for the 2025 midterm elections, are banned within 20 meters of judging areas.
• Political endorsements: Participating groups in the 2025 Kasadyahan and Dinagyang Festivals are not allowed to endorse or display election-related materials featuring candidates or parties in any form.

But the organized activists countered that Tren̈as’ executive order is not about neutrality but a blatant suppression of dissenting voices while favoring the powerful.

The group said the order violates basic rights guaranteed under Article III, Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution, including free speech, free press, and the right to assemble and protest against the government.

Iloilo’s multi-awarded Dinagyang Festival begins on Thursday, January 9, with the grand opening salvo and Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan Festival at the city’s Freedom Grandstand.

The two-day highlights will feature the crowd-drawer Dinagyang Tribes Competition and the Sadsad sa Calle Real on January 25 and 26. – Rappler.com