Friday, February 15, 2008 Church-based group to shun street protests
CAUSE-oriented groups will demand for the truth in the aborted National Broadband Network (NBN) deal and the government officials’ accountability during a multi-sectoral and ecumenical prayer at Fuente Osmeña circle in Cebu City today.
Although they support the call for truth and are rallying behind the whistleblowers in the NBN controversy, the church-based Dilaab movement will not be joining the activities.
Instead, Dilaab members and volunteers will issue a statement on the controversy and start a signature campaign next week in support of key witness Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada Jr. and the other whistleblowers in the case.
Lozada, an electronics engineer who was hired as former socioeconomic planning secretary Romulo Neri’s consultant on the US$330-million ZTE deal, is a key witness in the NBN controversy. He has testified that Neri asked him to “moderate the greed” of Arroyo administration allies, who allegedly asked for US$130 million in kickbacks.
Akbayan spokesperson Ernie Edralin said this afternoon’s prayer gathering is organized by Akbayan, Aliance of Progressive Labor, Akbayan Youth, Center for Participatory Government, Fellowship for Organizing Endeavors, Movement for the Advancement of Student Power and other cause-oriented groups.
Overhaul
Bayan Muna will also hold a similar activity at the same venue at 10 a.m. today.
Among other things, Akbayan will push for reforms, an overhaul of the government and the removal from office of officials engaged in large-scale corruption.
Edralin pointed out the need to change the government leaders, saying their corrupt practices resulted in the lack of affordable nutritious food, affordable medicines and education facilities for ordinary Filipinos.
While they are hopeful that the rallies will be peaceful, the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) has prepared a team from the crowd dispersal management (CDM) in anticipation of protests by militant organizations and cause-oriented groups supporting Lozada’s claims.
CCPO Director Patrocinio Comendador said traffic enforcers will also be fielded along the routes where the protesters will march.
During the same rally, Akbayan will also pray that efforts of the Arroyo administration in amending the Constitution will be stopped.
Edralin said the cause-oriented groups and members of the religious community will gather to show their support for Lozada, “who courageously came out to expose how pervasive the system of corruption is in our government.”
In Makati, a protest led by the United Opposition and various civil society and militant groups will also be held today, calling for the resignation of President Arroyo.
“This Friday’s rally is just a kick-off for the series of mass actions we are planning, to show our indignation over the widespread corruption in the Arroyo administration,” said opposition spokesman Adel Tamano after attending a meeting last Wednesday night with protest organizers.
No politician or any political personalities will take the center stage, he added, contrary to earlier reports that former president Corazon Aquino will be among the rally’s leading personalities.
Outcry
Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay urged the Arroyo administration to allow protesters to express their grievances peacefully. Binay is also president of the United Opposition.
“Given the public outcry over the revelations of Mr. Lozada, it is only prudent for the police to allow the participants to express their grievances. They should refrain from taking any action that will be interpreted as an act of provocation,” he said.
In a meeting in Cebu last Wednesday night, Dilaab volunteers and members decided not to join the prayer rallies.
Fr. Carmelo Diola, the coordinating steward for Dilaab, said they agreed to hold a mass at the Redemptorist Church at 7 p.m. on Monday, as they join the country in searching for the truth.
“During the mass, we will launch a signature campaign to show our stand behind the truth, that we believe in Lozada, and we appreciate what he revealed. We want whistleblowers to come out and we want other personalities (in the controversy) to know that we are looking over their shoulders. We want fairness and transparency,” said Fr. Diola.
Dilaab is a church-based movement that aims to make each person a “heroic Christian citizen” through participation in the campaign to promote transparency and expose corruption. It is composed of three groups: Kamatuoran Inc., Barug Pilipino and Friends of Pedro.
As for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ call for communal action, Fr. Diola said that this is a way of telling the people that while prayer is important, they should also act on the country’s problems, especially as a member of the church.
Meanwhile, Pamana-Sugbo, an organization of Cebu fishers, has joined the Pambansang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas in holding a rally and picket at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Manila to call for the resignation of DENR Secretary Lito Atienza and President Arroyo for refusing to stop the oil and gas exploration in Tañon Strait.
Vince Cinches of the Fisherfolks Development Center said that like the ZTE-NBN deal, the exploration conducted by Japan Oil Exploration Corp. is hurting the poor people. (NRC/EOB/JST)
