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Thursday, October 09, 2003
Poor groups await goodies from Glo
CEBU -- President Arroyo returns from Bali, Indonesia with land titles, health cards and checks to give away to Cebuano beneficiaries Thursday.
But militant groups led by Bayan Muna planned a different welcome for the President—a “hound protest” to let her know their “discontent” with her performance.
The police said they are ready to disperse any demonstration that will become unruly and disturb peace and order.
More than 20 Kaohsiung buses will be used to ferry thousands of urban poor groups to the Cebu City Sports Center to make sure that Arroyo’s visit will be a well-attended affair.
The Cebu City Government will field buses to the neighboring cities of Talisay and Lapu-Lapu to bring housing beneficiaries to the sports center for the multi-sectoral program that will be held at 10 a.m. today.
Organizers expect a crowd of about 20,000 but only about 5,000 of that number are housing beneficiaries, who will receive land titles.
The President wrapped up her three-day trip to Bali where she attended the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit.
The President’s visit to Cebu is her first out-of-town trip after announcing last Saturday in Clark, Pampanga that she will run in the 2004 elections.
Gov. Pablo Garcia and Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña will head the reception party for Arroyo at the sports complex today.
Aside from handing out land titles to housing beneficiaries, the President will give P1.3 million to 117 beneficiaries of small livelihood program and will award 2,000 Philhealth cards and Pag-ibig checks.
Police Regional Office 7 Director Robert Delfin assured they are prepared for the Arroyo’s visit.
He also ordered police units to “maintain alertness” for crime prevention.
Regional Investigation and Intelligence Division Chief Melchor Fajardo said the PNP 7 disturbance unit “can manage” the protests that will be staged by militant groups.
They will also back Central Command personnel who will secure the area.
Aside from Bayan Muna, Sanlakas is also expected to hold a separate demonstration.
Armand Perez, secretary general of Bayan Muna, said they call it a hound protest because in each place Arroyo will visit, they have people assigned to hold a rally.
“We know she will be going to Abellana and Waterfront Hotel where she will meet with local officials, so we will show her our discontent in these places,” he said.
However, sports center manager Ricky Ballesteros said organizers are expected to “sanitize” the crowds in the complex.
Bomb-sniffing dogs were sent to inspect the area as early as Tuesday, he said.
Police also said the protesters won’t be allowed to go near the President.
Arroyo was expected in Cebu from Bali at 9:45 Thursday night.
She is staying at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel Lahug, where she will have breakfast with about five Cabinet members, said Presidential Assistant for Central Visayas Felix Guanzon.
After the one-hour program at the sports complex, she will hold a 30-minute press conference before she will proceed to a luncheon with local officials at the Waterfront Mactan Hotel.
Guanzon said Governor Garcia and Agriculture Undersecretary Celestino “Junie” Martinez Jr. were invited to the “get-together.”
Some 72 Cebu City barangay captains, who pledged support to Arroyo in 1998, were invited also.
However, Osmeña reportedly made reservations in a separate room to allow Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan officials and barangay captains to have an audience with the President before she flies back to Manila at 2 p.m. CYR/AIV/With GC
(October 9, 2003 issue)
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