|
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Business groups, Cebu mayors ask Arroyo to hang on
CEBU CITY -- Cebu City's police force reinforced security at the Malacañang sa Sugbo, in the wake of protests pushing for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Starting Friday afternoon, the Cebu City Police Office also ordered a "heightened full alert," placing all personnel on call to respond to any emergencies.
National leaders, civil society and the business sector are split on whether President Arroyo should remain in office, amid allegations that she rigged last year's elections and that her family has received gambling payoffs.
But in Cebu, the mayors' league urged Arroyo to hold on. It's a call echoed by the Vice Mayors League of the Philippines, said the group's secretary general and Poro Vice Mayor Ronald Carcellar.
The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and the business community in the Visayas also continue to stand behind Arroyo.
Ten Cabinet members resigned last Friday and asked the President to do the same, saying she cannot rule under a "cloud of doubt." However, loyal Cabinet members called their former colleagues "traitors."
Government Media Group Secretary Cerge Remonde said the President was in the Palace, meeting with officials, and she remains confident of the support of different sectors.
There are no immediate plans to come to Cebu, contrary to speculations Friday night that she would seek relief here, from her troubles in the capital.
She might visit Cebu next week for the July 16 feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel at the Carmelite Monastery, Remonde told Sun.Star Cebu Saturday night.
Remonde also belittled the newly organized Gloria Step Down Movement in Cebu, which has militant groups and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Cebu City chapter as members, saying they are an insignificant group compared with those supporting Arroyo.
'Hypocrites'
"The Cebu municipal mayors reiterate their full and unequivocal support for President Arroyo and for her to stay as President," said League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Cebu president Ronald Allan Cesante.
LMP would have wanted to come up with a manifesto, but Cesante said it is hard to gather all the mayors now, as most of them are busy attending to other appointments.
"We just contacted them and we come up with that consensus," he said.
The LMP National Directorate will meet Sunday.
Saturday night, the CCCI and business leaders from Bacolod and Tacloban cities met to express their support for the President.
"We stand by our position supporting the constitutional process and the rule of law.... We are calling on all political leaders and the public to act with sobriety and vigilance in consideration of the national interest and economic stability," their statement read.
"We condemn the hypocritical and obnoxious attempts to bully the President into resigning. We insist that the President stay," said CCCI president Robert Go.
Security
The businessmen in the Visayas also support a change of government, from presidential to a federal system, which Arroyo said she will push in Congress this year. She is scheduled to deliver her State of the Nation Address on July 25.
Go said Metro Manila does not represent the majority, as Visayas and Mindanao are the majority.
However, the opposition and the militant groups plan for rallies to demand for the President to step down.
The police in Cebu City will be ready for the demonstrations, especially at the Malacañang sa Sugbo at the port area.
Acting Cebu City Police Director Melvin Gayotin said in a press conference yesterday that at least 37 operatives of the Regional Mobile Group were sent to the area Friday night.
Gayotin said the 37 policemen serve as an augmentation force to the personnel from the different police stations, who are already securing the area.
The Presidential Security Group, however, is still the lead group securing the building.
Gayotin designated Waterfront Police Station Chief Mariano Batiancela as ground commander for the policemen and the RMG members detailed at the President's official residence in Cebu.
These policemen will also conduct beat patrols in Fort San Pedro, Plaza Independencia and at the main office of the Philippine Postal Authority. (Sun.Star Cebu/Sunnex)
(July 10, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Arroyo allies play 'underdog' card