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Monday, September 12, 2005
Police raise alert levels for strike, protests
CEBU CITY -- Cebu City's police force is on heightened alert for Sunday's transport strike, while police teams from the province are ready to assist, in case more law enforcers are needed in Metro Cebu.
The strike is part of a nationwide protest against the Arroyo administration, the continuing oil price increases and the implementation of the reformed value-added tax.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, for her part, declared today a National Day of Prayer, a call supported by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines.
Without mentioning the political crisis, Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal also echoed calls for prayer. He said in a sermon during the weekend that prayers, not protests, are what people should be offering.
The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) has deployed at least 30 policemen at the Cebu City Hall to serve as escorts for Kaoshiung buses.
Crowd dispersal teams are also assigned at several chokepoints in the city.
Anticipating that some members of cause-oriented groups and militant organizations will also hold a protest at the Malacañang in the South, another team will be deployed in the area.
Special units headed by the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau will serve as covert operatives, while Theft and Robbery Section personnel have been reminded to be on extra alert in monitoring unscrupulous people who could take advantage of the crowds.
Provincial Police Office Director Vicente Loot has also issued a memorandum to all police station chiefs to be on call, so that they can send teams should the police in the cities of Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue and Cebu seek their help.
The Nagkahiusang Drayber sa Sugbo announced they will begin the week with a transport strike to support the opposition in Manila in its campaign against President Arroyo to put her out of office.
Last week, the House of Representatives threw out all three impeachment complaints against President Arroyo.
But several transport groups, such as the Alliance of Transport Organization Members Intra-Cebu City, are not joining the half-day strike.
Protesting drivers have also been urged not to harass those who still ply their routes today.
Director Alex Leyson of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) said that any interested party can file complaints with LTO 7 against jeepney drivers who join the strike.
But the complainants will need evidence that by joining the strike, a driver deprived them of their income. (JST)
(September 12, 2005 issue)
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