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Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Gov't ready to deal with Makati protest: Palace (3:03 p.m.)
MANILA -- Malacañang said the government and law enforcement authorities are prepared to deal with the big rally against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Makati City Wednesday.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said in a press conference in the Palace that the National Capital Region Police Office of the Philippine National Police (PNP) is on top of situation.
Asked about the attendance of actress Susan Roces, widow of the late former opposition presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr.,at the rally at 6 p.m., Ermita said they believe that Roces will call on the protestors to keep their protest action peaceful and that her presence will surely attract more people to attend the activity.
The government expects the rally organizers to keep the rally peaceful and orderly.
Meanwhile, Ermita denied that the government is preventing supporters of the opposition from provinces outside of Metro Manila from joining the rally.
He said the opposition should not take it against the government and law enforcement agencies from implementing rules and conducting checkpoints as precautionary measures to thwart terror groups from taking advantage of the rally.
On buses taken by the protestors, for example, Ermita said land transportation operatives are checking if the buses are plying outside of their assigned routes.
Ermita said the checkpoints, on the other hand, are meant to prevent terrorists and communist rebels from entering Metro Manila and infiltrating the ranks of the protestors. (Sunnex)
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