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Thursday, February 23, 2006
President praises Cebuano opposition during Martial Law
While protesters in Manila were rallying against her administration, President Arroyo chose to be in Cebu City for the 69th Charter Day celebration.
After all, she said, Cebu is the birthplace of the freedom Filipinos achieved in Edsa 1.
In her speech at the Charter Day awarding ceremony where she was conferred the “Anak sa Sugbo” award, Arroyo reminded the Cebuanos of Cebu’s role in achieving democracy during the Martial Law years.
“There are many celebrations for Edsa week in Manila but I am here with you on the 20th anniversary of Edsa 1 because I believe that the road to freedom that culminated in Edsa began in the little rotunda called Fuente Osmeña,” Arroyo said.
She pointed out that it was in Fuente Osmeña where the only opposition party that won against the administration in the 1978 Batasan elections made their case before the people and won.
Arroyo specifically cited the bravery of then assemblyman Hilario Davide Jr., who she said embodies Cebuano courage and intellect.
Thousands of protesters marched to the People Power Monument yesterday and called for the ouster of Arroyo, whose administration is hounded by allegations of electoral fraud.
Arroyo also announced in her speech at the Cebu City Sports Center that as of Feb. 14, about 37 percent of the ballot boxes from Cebu Province were opened and that the ballots have been recounted in relation to the protest filed against Vice President Noli de Castro.
“My election lawyer told me that the ballots for the President do not show any sign of cheating here in Cebu City and the rest of Cebu Province,” she told a cheering crowd last night.
Arroyo is confident her votes in Cebu will be affirmed in the recount not because the Cebuanos cheated but because Cebu really voted for her.
“With the confirmation of my victory here, where the bulk of my national majority came from, I reiterate my commitment to serve the country until my term ends in 2010. Because of you, I won the elections fair and square,” Arroyo said.
But in Manila, protesters called for the President’s ouster as they took to the streets to mark the 20th anniversary of the downfall of dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
“Bring down Gloria!” the demonstrators chanted as they marched under red banners towards the People Power Monument in Quezon City commemorating the removal of Marcos in a military-backed but bloodless popular revolt in 1986.
The people power movement began on Feb. 22, 1986 and three days later Marcos fled into exile in Hawaii.
The rallyists later pulled down metal railings put up by police near the monument, sparking a brief shoving match with riot police.
National Capital Region Police Chief Vidal Querol said between 3,000 and 4,000 people were taking part in the protest, which was being monitored by between 200 and 300 police.
Army chief Lieutenant-General Hermogenes Esperon announced separately yesterday that authorities have foiled a military coup plot against Arroyo that was to have been launched either last week or next month.(LCR/(AFP)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (February 23, 2006 issue)
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