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Friday, September 22, 2006
Group protests use of calamity funds
Policemen blocked members of the Kilusan para Pambansang Demo-krasya (KPD) who marched towards the Lapu-lapu City Hall to oppose the use of calamity funds for Asean summit preparations.
Insp. Rene Cotamora and some 100 crowd control policemen stopped around 30 to 40 rallyists at the intersection leading to the City Hall at 3 p.m. yesterday.
KPD members tried to push through the police column, but authorities forced them back.
Eight rallyists lay down the road. Lawmen allowed them to shout and wave their placards in the middle of the intersection for an hour.
But SPO3 Bonifacio Sumalinog issued violation tickets to the driver of the multicab they used.
Judilmar Badayos, the driver, was cited for obstruction and reckless driving as their vehicle was parked in the middle of the intersection.
Fire marshal
Cotamora asked reinforcement from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP). Chief Insp. Ricardo Cor-nelio, the fire marshal, arrived onboard a firetruck at around 3:35 p.m.
Rosita Blando, the group’s spokesperson, lambasted the lawmen through a megaphone placed on top of their multicab.
In a position paper, she stated that the city allocated P10 million for “imminent danger of calamity” while giving nothing to the poor whose houses were demolished, their properties lost and livelihood affected also in preparation for the summit.
She was referring to the demolition in Sitio Mangal, Barangay Punta Engaño.
City Attorney Joseph Lim, in a separate interview, said they were illegally occupying a private area and putting up stores without securing business permit.
Illegal
Giving aid to people doing illegal act is not in accordance with the law, he said.
But for Blando, it is “surprising” to learn that it is illegal for Filipinos to live in their own country.
She said the locals were driven away from their homes to give way for a road widening to cater to tourist spots and beaches to serve the interest of foreigners.
“Ug kinsa man diay ang angay papuy-on sa Pilipinas, mga langyaw (Who must stay in the Philippines, the foreigners)?” she asked.
Armed with shields and batons, the policemen dispersed the rallyists at 4 p.m. (OCP)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (September 22, 2006 issue)
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