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Thursday, September 22, 2005
Major opposition people absent in rally
MANILA -- Members of militant, opposition and civil society groups assembled anew Wednesday in the country's financial district of Makati City to press for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. They rally coincided with 33rd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law.
The rally's organizers estimated the crowd at 30,000 but the police said only 5,000 people participated in the protest.
Former President Corazon Aquino and movie actress Susan Roces, who had vowed to lead anti-Arroyo protests, were not able to join Wednesday's assembly. Roces was sick while Aquino had a previous engagement, according to television reports.
Even members of the so-called "Hyatt 10" or the 10 former Cabinet members who resigned en masse last July 8 and called on Arroyo to step down were not around.
President Arroyo's critics and Martial Law victims started occupying Paseo de Roxas and Ayala Avenues in Makati City at 4 p.m. They gathered in the area under the banner of the "Bukluran para sa Katotohanan (Coalition for the Truth)".
Pro-impeachment congressmen like Francis Escudero of Sorsogon, Ronaldo Zamora of San Juan, Rolex Suplico of Iloilo and Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casino, Rissa Hontiveros, Liza Masa and Renato Magtubo of party-list groups and other opposition personalities led the rally.
Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay Jr., president of United Opposition (UNO), said although the impeachment cases against President Arroyo have been dismissed, the people will continue the fight for the truth behind allegations of cheating in last year's elections. He said the dismissal of the complaints only triggered street protests that would be held as long as the President stays in power.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Vidal Querol said the policemen observed maximum tolerance in dealing with the protestors.
Director Querol said the protestors would only be allowed to stay in the area until 8 p.m. as indicated in their permit.
About 2,000 policemen were deployed to the Ayala Avenue in Makati; Mabuhay Rotonda, Edsa Shrine and People Power Monument in Quezon City; and Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila.
Carol Araullo of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said the suppression of people's rights was one of the factors that ushered the first People Power uprising in 1986. "Arroyo has proven (to be) quite a poor student of history. This will make her doomed to suffer the same fate as (former President Ferdinand) Marcos," she said.
Aurello said even during the time of Marcos, People Power did not materialize overnight or in an instant, citing that it took three years before the late former President was toppled.
Former Defense secretary Fortunato Abat, one of the principal figures in the Edsa II revolt, blamed the lack of unity among the groups calling for the resignation of President Arroyo as among the reasons why she continues to be in the power.
Abat said anti-Arroyo forces have to set aside their self-interests and differences to succeed in their endeavor. He said while many groups are in favor of unseating the President, they disagree on the means to remove her. (JFF/Sunnex)
(September 22, 2005 issue)
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