Monday, July 26, 2004 Militants to stage own Sona in streets Monday By Ben O. Tesiorna
SEVERAL militant organizations in Davao City will troop to the streets as President Arroyo is set to deliver her State of the Nation Address (Sona) Monday.
Led by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), the groups said they would hold their own version of Sona, which will challenge the much-ballyhooed 10-point agenda of Arroyo.
Bayan, with its 2,000-strong members, will have a march rally Monday from noon to 5:30 p.m.
The march will start from Magsaysay Park to Rizal Park where an informative cultural program is prepared.
Bayan said in line with the president's presentation of her 10-point agenda in her Sona, "the broad alliance of progressive organizations will challenge her presidency with the immediate people's agenda".
"Bayan will demand for the end of Arroyo's commitment with the coalition of the willing, in the same way that we will be ending our participation to the United States' bogus "war without borders".
Likewise, the immediate pullout of the US troops in Carmen, North Cotabato will be demanded as the Balikatan Exercises or Balance Piston in the said province will commence today," they stated.
"Some 22 US personnel together with 100 Filipino soldiers are set to undergo war exercises in the heart of Limbalod Complex, covering nine barangays namely, Nasapian, Kibayan, Katanayanan, Manarapan, Ranzo, Kibines, Luna, Ugalingan and Limbalod," they added.
Bayan and other militant organizations said they would also remain steadfast with their campaign on the scrapping of the oil deregulation law, rollback of oil price increases, P125/P3,000 across the board wage increase, among others.
President Arroyo is expected to deliver her Sona today after getting a fresh mandate from the last election.
All units of the Philippine National Police (PNP) are now on red alert in time for today's Sona.
According to Senior Insp. Noel Fermin, chief of the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (Satu), Davao City Police Office chief Conrado Laza has ordered all unit commanders to stay on red alert before, during and after the Sona.
He said the Philippine National Police has not switched off its red alert status since the start of the election period "even if the situation is normal in Davao City."
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