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Saturday, April 29, 2006
Nalzaro: Abused freedom
By Bobby Nalzaro
The Supreme Court decision declaring the controversial calibrated preemptive response (CPR) policy of the Arroyo administration as unconstitutional is a welcome development for those fighting for our democratic rights and freedom of assembly.
The decision was in keeping with the basic right enshrined in the 1987 Constitution. Section 4, Article 111 (Bill of Rights) states: “No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.”
President Arroyo implemented the CPR policy at the height of the political crisis that hounded her administration last year following allegations of massive electoral fraud in the 2004 elections, as contained in the so-called “Hello Garci” tape.
It was meant to discourage people from staging protest actions because of the shaky and volatile political situation. Arroyo feared that the protest actions staged by the combined forces of the political opposition and militant groups would snowball into People Power and gain the support of the military. She learned her lesson from Edsa 2.
I hope, though, that the Supreme Court ruling will be respected by authorities and likewise will not be abused by organizers and participants of street protests. We all know that clashes would erupt sometimes between protesters and law enforcers because protesters violate laws in the guise of freedom and authorities sometimes do not exercise restraint.
One example is when protesters break through a barricade set up by the police then forcibly enter public buildings, like what happened at the Malacañang sa Sugbo last year, which resulted to a stoning incident and the commission of provocative acts against authorities.
Indeed, freedom can also be abused.
I am not against rallies and demonstrations, although these inconvenience us sometimes. I joined anti-government protest way back in my college days in Zamboanga City.
It was voluntary on my part. I was not affiliated with any militant student organization. At times, I would skip classes just to be able to join the group of the legendary Zamboanga City mayor and one of Ferdinand Marcos’ critics then, the late Cesar Climaco, who led rallies at the city's plaza.
I stopped joining the rallies when I was already with the media. But I am not discounting the possibility I would go back to the streets not to protest against the government but perhaps as part of advocacy work.
(bgnalzaro@gmanetwork.com)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (April 29, 2006 issue)
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