Friday, January 12, 2007 Mandaue mayor bans rallies, even in freedom park
MANDAUE City has been declared a “no-rally zone” until the end of the Asean summit early next week.
Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) Director Alexander Abadinas received Mayor Thadeo Ouano’s Jan. 10 memorandum yesterday.
PNP Chief Oscar Calderon, while inspecting troops at the Tactical Operation Center last Wednesday, announced the PNP still maintains its “no rally, no permit” policy in Metro Cebu.
While he made the announcement, members of Kilusang Mangingisda were holding a street painting and press conference at the city’s freedom park, some 1.5 kilometers away.
Abadinas said the City earlier agreed with militant groups that they must coordinate with the mayor’s office, the City’s Civil Security Unit and MCPO if they want to stage any protest.
Abadinas told the mayor what happened, and expressed his concern, especially since the freedom park is along the summit’s ceremonial route.
The mayor immediately issued the memorandum order banning rallies in the city. Last year, Ouano designated the vacant lot across the City’s fire station as a freedom park, where rallies may be held. OCP igh-end one. (JPM)
