Wednesday, January 09, 2008 Arroyo set to visit Oro Wednesday By Lizanilla J. Amarga
AUTHORITIES beefed up Tuesday the security measures for Cagayan de Oro City and the Province of Misamis Oriental, as well as other neighboring areas after confirmation that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is arriving here Wednesday.
Reports from the government-run regional office of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and the Office of the Provincial Governor of Misamis Oriental also confirmed Arroyo's arrival in this city.
Latest reports revealed that members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) are contemplating on meeting with Arroyo here to push their demands for a "presidential pardon or amnesty" for their chairman Professor Nur Misuari.
Arroyo's itinerary meantime will include her trip to Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental to attend the commencement rites for the Laguindingan International Airport`s civil work.
Representatives from the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Korean Export-Import Bank (Exim Bank) and Ayala Corp., among others, will join Arroyo.
She will also attend the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp., one of the world's largest shipping companies.
The signing will be held at the Philippine Veterans Investment Development Corp. (PHividec) in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental where Hanjin will put up one of its huge expansions in a 300-hectare lot.
Arroyo will also inaugurate the controversial P332 million 5th Kagay-anon Bridge that links Barangay Carmen to Barangay Nazareth.
The project, which was awarded to UKC Builders, Inc. in 2001 costing only around P190 million, is one of the subjects of the P1.4 billion plunder charges formally filed against former city mayor now Vice-Mayor Vicente Emano and 26 other respondents.
Moreover, Arroyo will join the anniversary celebration of the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental.
The Armed Forces' 4th Infantry Division and the Philippine National Police (PNP) with the support of the various agencies and local government units (LGUs) are now coordinating their moves to make sure that the President's visit will be carried out without a hitch.
Troops in uniform and plainclothes were deployed Tuesday to the various areas where the President will attend an affair including the routes she will be passing through.
A member of the MNLF who requested anonymity told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro Tuesday that they are eyeing for a meeting with Arroyo while she is here in Mindanao to ask her to pardon Misuari.
"Kay na pardon man gani kadto si Erap nga convicted gyud kini pa ang amoang chairman nga si Chairman Nur Misuari nga hangtud karon wala pa gyud mapamatud-an nga sad-an (For the President even granted pardon to former President Joseph 'Erap' Estrada who was actually convicted of a crime how much more with our chairman Nur Misuari who until now is yet to be proven as guilty)," he said.
The release of Misuari is also connected to the request that the MNLF be properly represented in the peace pact that is set to be forged between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
