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Saturday, June 26, 2004
Poe backers, militants eye more protests v. Glo
By Jonathan F. Fernandez and Benjamin B. Pulta
MANILA -- Supporters of defeated presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. and several militant groups held Friday more protest rallies to condemn the proclamation of President Arroyo and Vice President-elect Noli de Castro as the winners in the May 10 elections.
This as Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. appealed for sobriety.
In the Senate, President Pro Tempore Juan Flavier said he believes that another popular uprising would not happen because of the lack of support.
Thousands of members of pro-Poe groups like Muslim Youth Alliance, FPJ (Fernando Poe Jr.) for President Movement, Bagong Alyansang Alternatiba and Gabriela converged at the Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City at 3 p.m. to denounce alleged election fraud in the recent elections.
Militants belong to the Bagong Alyansang Alternatiba later marched to Mendiola Bridge in Malacaņang, Manila and conducted a noise barrage.
Members of the Muslim Youth Alliance, for their part, did a noise barrage at the Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila, and asked their fellow Muslims to join in the protest.
Allan Belangui, Muslim Youth representative, said they believe that the truth did not come out in the elections.
Belangui asked for the opening of election returns to see the actual votes for president and vice president. He said they would bring the alleged cheating to the attention of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), where the Philippines is seeking observer status.
The Gabriela said the victory of Arroyo and de Castro remains questionable until the ERs are opened and the actual votes are scanned. The group also said President Arroyo did not show concern for Filipino women's situation during her three-year term.
They said they will hold a protest rally during the inauguration of President Arroyo on June 30.
Davide, for his part, urged aggrieved parties in the last national elections to exhaust all legitimate remedies under the law instead of resorting to extralegal means.
"Under the Constitution, we have the Presidential Electoral Tribunal. Should they choose to they could file the necessary election protest before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal," Davide said.
Clarifying that he is speaking "not as a Chief Justice but as a plain citizen," the magistrate, who is scheduled to step down next year, said "the times would call for unity.
"I appeal to the sense of patriotism to all Filipinos, without prejudice to seeking redress in accordance with the Constitution and the law, always taking into account the preservation of law and the preservation of our democratic institutions," said Davide.
Meanwhile, Flavier said a People Power 4 is next to impossible.
Flavier issued the statement after outgoing Vice President Teofisto Guingona warned of another revolution after the proclamation of Arroyo and de Castro since their victory is under question.
Flavier dismissed the scenario saying that the people are already exhausted from protests and rallies conducted by different groups.
He also said an Edsa 4 has no support from civil society and even from the military.
Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan also belittled an Edsa 4 because of lack of support from the people.
Pangilinan said what the people want now is for political leaders to work hard to gain economic reforms.
Flavier also urged Poe and Legarda to concede or file a protest in the proper forum if they think they were cheated in the elections.
Flavier said Poe and Legarda should follow the example of Sen. Panfilo Lacson who conceded defeat and recognized President Arroyo as the duly elected president. (With a report from JPM)
(June 26, 2004 issue)
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