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Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Rallies mark Mindanao leaders' summit
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- Hundreds of city residents urging support for the Constitution staged a picket in front of the Marco Polo Hotel Tuesday while several Mindanao political leaders were holding a summit inside the hotel.
They came by barangays, proudly wielding their placards that demanded respect for the Constitution.
Just across the street from the pro-Arroyo picket, several placard-bearing protesters called for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and shouted invectives while police and military personnel stood behind, watching.
Colonel Eduardo del Rosario, Task Force Davao chief, said he ordered his men to exercise maximum tolerance and prevent any untoward incident from happening.
Militant protesters claimed that the President's "stubbornness only justifies the widespread protest actions that are now taking place nationwide."
"She is inciting the restive masses to go out in the streets and demand her immediate ouster. It seems that her call for charter change is a desperate attempt to hold on to presidency," said Juland Suazo of Bayan Southern Mindanao.
"It is now loud and clear that all sectors are asking Mrs. Arroyo to step down. Now is the time for the Filipino people to express their sovereign will through direct democratic actions in the parliament of the streets to pressure the immediate resignation of Mrs. Arroyo. We are called to uphold the noble and patriotic traditions of people power," he added.
Hundreds of political leaders from Mindanao attended Tuesday's Mindanao Political Leaders' Summit that was organized by the Confederation of Provincial Governors, City Mayors and Municipal Mayors League Presidents of Mindanao.
North Cotabato Governor Emmanuel Piñol said the purpose of their meeting is to get the feel of Mindanaoans on several issues like the proposal for an independent Mindanao republic, federal Philippines and constitutional reforms suggested by former president Fidel Ramos. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(July 13, 2005 issue)
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5 gunmen, 2 soldiers killed in fighting