Tuesday, May 01, 2007 Police ready for Labor Day rallies By Genalin D. Ducay
BOTH the provincial and the city police directors have assured a tight security for Tuesday's celebration of the International Labor Day which is expected to draw about 3,000 to 4,000 ralliest from various labor groups in Bacolod and Negros Occidental.
Provincial Police Director Rosendo Franco said all police units in the province have been alerted against any untoward incident that might be launched by the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army (CPP-NPA).
For his part, City Police Director Ronilo Quebrar said the city police will secure the public plaza, rotunda and the Fountain of Justice to ensure peace and order and also to thwart any untoward incident.
Meanwhile, workers under the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), a movement of laborers, will air Tuesday their demand for the P125 across-the board legislative wage hike, job security and benefits, and labor and democratic rights.
A protest march will begin from Redemptorist Church in the north and Lupit Church in the south.
Both will converge at the Bacolod Public Plaza.
Meanwhile, on April 28, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) declared the highest state of alert all over Metro Manila in connection with the Labor Day celebration, which some labor groups vowed to commemorate with the holding of protests in the metropolis.
This as the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) urged the candidates in the upcoming elections to have clear programs for all Filipino workers.
Major General Ben Mohammad Dolorfino, commander of the AFP National Capital Region Command (NCRCom), said red alert in the metropolis took effect 12 noon Monday as about 2,000 soldiers would be on stand by for any eventuality.
"We will be on red alert effective today (Monday), which means that we will place on stand by our Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) units. In addition to that, our Quick Reaction Units are also on stand by," said Dolorfino.
