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Saturday, June 25, 2005
Anti-Arroyo groups hold massive protest
MANILA -- An estimated 5,000 people held a rally at Quezon Avenue in Quezon City Friday to press President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to resign amid accusations that she cheated in the May 2004 presidential elections.
Members of militant groups and non-government organizations, supporters of former President Joseph Estrada and late movie icon and former presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr., students, businessmen, former and incumbent government leaders, and religious groups assembled in front of the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City at 1 p.m.
The protesters, including Manila Vice Mayor Danny Lacuna, San Juan Mayor Jose Victor Ejercito, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, movie actor and FPJ loyalist Rez Cortez, other prominent personalities, and leaders of different groups, were supposed to hold an ecumenical service at the church but church officials did not allow them.
From the church, the rallyists marched down Quezon Avenue to go to Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila but they were blocked by anti-riot policemen upon reaching the Welcome Rotunda area.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Vidal Querol and protest leaders agreed to hold a rally instead at the Welcome Rotunda.
Manila Mayor Jose "Lito" Atienza barred the protesters from holding the rally in Liwasang Bonifacio as Manilenos celebrated "Araw ng Maynila" Friday.
Querol said they would allow the protesters as long as their actions are within the bounds of law and would not affect the traffic in the area. He said they would maintain the policy of respect for basic rights to free expression.
National Police Chief Arturo Lomibao said the deployment of policemen in the area is a precautionary measure to protect the citizens in the event of any untoward incident. He said the policemen were directed to observe maximum tolerance at all times.
Lomibao said leaders of mass actions would be held responsible for any violation by their members.
"I urge everyone concerned to remain calm, but with a high sense of vigilance against individuals or groups who may take advantage of the situation to foment anarchy and violence," he said.
About 6,000 policemen were deployed to the Welcome Rotunda. At least 4,000 soldiers were also on standby status all over the metropolis for deployment if needed.
Former defense secretary Fortunato Abat and his Coalition for National Salvation (CNS) called off their "march to national salvation" to Malacañang where they would have called for Arroyo's resignation.
Abat and his group set the march Saturday but it will not push through in deference to former Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin who died last Tuesday. Instead, he said they would have a mass at their headquarters along Edsa.
He said the cancellation of the march has nothing to do with the filing of inciting to sedition charges against him last Thursday in connection with his call for the President's ouster.
Bayan Muna party-list Representative Teodoro Casino said: "The President is now growing more isolated than ever and whatever tiny vacuum to be left by her resignation or removal could now be easily filled by other more capable leaders."
Casiño said the calls made by former senator Raul Roco, former defense secretary Renato de Villa, Senator Panfilo Lacson and religious leader Eddie Villanueva either to speak up on the wiretapping controversy or to resign from office are a welcome addition to the burgeoning united front against what is now considered by many as a "fraudulently-elected president."
"A regime change may soon be a reality because the pint-sized vacuum of a
highly-probable and much-wanted Arroyo departure from the presidency may now be readily filled up," he said.
"Together with battle-tested stalwarts of the parliament of the streets and other Filipinos known for their probity and integrity, the new recruits and entrants into the anti-Arroyo movement now enlarge the front and backbenches of the regime that may soon replace Arroyo's," he added.
Western Police District (WPD) Director Pedro Bulaong said heavy security will be enforced in Malacañang and the oil depots in Manila in the following days. (JFF/ECV/Sunnex)
(June 25, 2005 issue)
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