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Monday, May 01, 2006
PNP, military to keep tight watch over rallies, coup threat
THE police and military went on a maximum state of alert yesterday for the Labor Day protest rallies, even as officials warned protesters against proceeding to Malacañang to press for President Arroyo’s ouster.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) declared the full alert while the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) went on the red alert effective yesterday noon in anticipation of untoward incidents that may mar the activities.
The alert status of both PNP and the AFP is imposed nationwide.
Members of the opposition in the House of Representatives, meanwhile, remained doubtful that the Arroyo administration will again impose a martial law-like scenario as demonstrators, including opposition leaders, will join protests in connection with the celebration of Labor Day.
Party-list Reps. Crispin Beltran of Anakpawis and Satur Ocampo and Teodoro Casiño of Bayan Muna said that it is not impossible that Malacañang will re-impose emergency powers similar to that of Proclamation 1017, which the President Arroyo issued last Feb. 24 to ensure that she remains in office.
Factions
Rightist and leftist groups said they plan to mass up around 500,000 protestors at the vicinity of Malacañang. If a critical mass is reached, factions within the AFP may withdraw support from the President.
A document, confiscated from arrested Oakwood mutineer 1Lt. Lawrence San Juan, also indicated that the massing up would be in coordination with strikes from the Makabayang Kawal Pilipino, also known as the Magdalo Group.
But the military and police said that their preparations were primarily to maintain peace and order during the protest rallies to be mounted by labor and anti-government groups and not due to destabilization or plan to grab power.
“There is no specific threat or information that there is a threat of destabilization. Our mission is to ensure peace and order during the observance of the Labor Day,” said PNP Spokesman Samuel Pagdilao.
Pagdilao reminded the rallyists to abide by the provisions of the Batas Pambansa 880 or the Public Safety Law, which authorizes people to assemble provided they get permissions from concerned local government units.
Ouster
Although labor and militant groups in Cebu will still call for Arroyo’s ouster, they promised to hold peaceful rallies for today’s 120th commemoration of Labor Day.
Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) vice chairman for Central Visayas Jaime Paglinawan said the group will continue to lobby for the P125 across-the-board wage increase for private sector workers and the P3,000 monthly increase for government workers in a signature campaign and rally.
They will also oppose Charter change and call for the release of Congressman Beltran, who was arrested last February for allegedly plotting against the President.
Paglinawan said there will be no violent protests and revealed that they secured a permit to hold a rally on Colon St. as early as the second week of April.
The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) 7, for its part, will focus on the promotion on employment and industrial peace in the region.
Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas is expected to give the keynote speech in today’s commemorative program at the Sisters of Mary Girlstown gym in Talisay City at 10:30 a.m.
Caravan
Aside from the program in Talisay City and the caravan and solidarity run in the four cities, local and overseas jobs fairs will be held at the Cebu City Sports Complex and the Cebu Provincial Capital grounds in Cebu City.
The Manila and the Quezon City Governments, meanwhile, have authorized a number of areas where rallyists can converge and express themselves. The areas include the People Power Monument in Edsa, Liwasang Bonifacio, and Plaza Miranda, among others.
Police warned that the historic Edsa Shrine, site of the two successful Edsa revolts, and Mendiola, where supporters of former president Joseph Estrada converged and later attempted to seize Malacañang, are not in the list of permitted rally sites.
A number of labor and leftist groups affiliated with the political opposition plan to proceed to Mendiola to air their concerns. Groups identified with Estrada were due to converge as early as 4 a.m. at the Club Filipino in San Juan and march to Mendiola.
Major rally
This is the first major protest rally to be held since the Supreme Court declared about two weeks ago as unconstitutional the calibrated preemptive response (CPR) which the police used as basis in dispersing almost every anti-government rallies in the past several months.
Malacañang has warned the public that President would not hesitate to declare a proclamation similar of that of Proclamation 1017 if the government will be placed under threat.
But Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor said they are not expecting any violent dispersal, despite the massive street protests, mostly in Metro Manila, to mark the Labor Day celebration.
“We are taking a maximum tolerance position. If they rally to Mendiola, they will be forewarned. All the maximum tolerance procedures will be observed,” he said. (Sunnex/CYR)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (May 1, 2006 issue)
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