Police arrested more than 50 protesters along Commonwealth Avenue on Monday for alleged ordinance violations ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (SoNA), drawing sharp condemnation from rights groups who called the crackdowns illegal and premeditated.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. told reporters that at least 51 individuals were taken into custody near the Batasan Pambansa complex, citing violations of public assembly laws, solid waste management ordinances, and local bans against wearing face covers during demonstrations.

“We have reason to effect an arrest,” Nartatez said while inspecting security forces along the main highway.

“They were accosted because of violations of ordinances and special laws... particularly face-covering rules. We don’t want to allow them to continue causing trouble on the streets and affecting peaceful protesters,” he added.

Nartatez cited that police spent months planning security measures for the annual address, drawing lessons from previous demonstrations.

However, progressive coalition Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) strongly condemned the police action, stating that law enforcers swooped into the middle of the crowd to detain youth activists while the march was actively underway.

Bayan secretary-general Raymond “Mong” Palatino said around 35 to 40 members of youth group Vandals United were detained in what he termed a planned crackdown on peaceful expression.

“What the police did was wrong,” Palatino said. “Even under their own protocol, that is prohibited. You are not supposed to make arrests while a protest is ongoing.”

Meantime, Bayan president Renato Reyes further alleged that police officers attempted to run over activists who tried to block the arrests and threatened leaders with detention if they intervened.