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Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Palace tells people not to join protests
PRESS Secretary Ignacio Bunye on Monday called on the people to shun all invitations to participate in street rallies against government.
Bunye, who is also Presidential spokesman, also asked the people to view the "Paglaban sa Kataksilan: 1017" video documentary to enlightened them on the security threats that prompted the imposition of a state of national emergency through Proclamation 1017.
He said the documentary is an honest, sincere effort to "involve the citizenry in a national effort to protect our democracy from extremist elements that seek its demise".
"President (Gloria Macapagal-) Arroyo has been the subject of incessant threats from these anti-democracy forces and we call on the people to rally behind the legitimate government and shun all invitations to take to the streets under the guise of safeguarding civil liberties. Had they succeeded, we won't even have a shred of a Constitution left, much less a Bill of Rights, to protect the welfare of our people," he said.
The Armed Forces are set to bring their "Talakayan sa Kampo" program to other military camps as part of efforts to strengthen the military. The program aims to provide a venue for the military to meet with their superiors and discuss their concerns.
The program was launched by the military's Civil Relations Service last week in Camp Aguinaldo or a day before Arroyo lifted Proclamation 1017. Arroyo, on lifting the state of emergency, ordered Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr. to talk with the military to determine their grievances and concerns and enable government to address them.
Arrangements for the next dialogue are being finalized and they hope to hold it in Fort Bonifacio next. The camp had been the site of a standoff in the Philippine Marines last week.
Bunye said the dialogue agenda is open for all relevant and vital issues affecting the Armed Forces.
He said all voices within the chain of command would be heard in those dialogues "but the discussion must not be used as a vehicle for propaganda." (JMR/Sunnex)
(March 7, 2006 issue)
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