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Saturday, October 22, 2005
Cardinal Vidal questions use of water cannons in rallies
CEBU CITY -- Unlike his Manila counterpart, Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal objected to the recent hosing down of rallyists, who included three members of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines.
He prayed Friday that the protesters will be safe.
Cardinal Vidal also reacted to militants who are dissatisfied with the Cebu Archdiocese's stand on the current political chaos in the country.
"They came to me for advice. I told them that lay people should do their own thing. Don't depend on us," he said.
About a thousand anti-Arroyo rallyists gathered outside the Malacañang sa Sugbo Friday, but the demonstration was not marred by any violence.
The militant groups and the police agreed that no loud music will be played to drown out the protests against the government's no permit, no rally policy and the Reformed Value-Added Tax (R-VAT) Law.
The rallyists also limited their speeches to only four speakers. They later dispersed without incident.
However, Cebu City Police Deputy Chief for Administration Mariano Natuel said 150 policemen, Central Command personnel and two fire trucks were asked to stand by.
The Arroyo administration is requiring organizers of protest actions to seek a permit from local governments as part of its calibrated preemptive response to rallies.
In Manila, several people, including six policeman, were injured when a scuffle ensued between police officers and protesters from Southern and Northern Luzon who staged a rally along C.M. Recto Ave. near the Chino Roces Bridge in Manila.
In Cebu, the protest led by the Coalition of Cebuanos Against Arroyo assembled at the Fuente Osmeña around 2 p.m. and moved to the Malacañang sa Sugbo in Cebu City's port area.
Since Friday was also World Food Day, farmers and fishermen affiliated with the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas and the Panaghugpong sa Gagmayg Mangingisda nga Nagkahiusa joined the rally.
They also opposed the R-VAT, fearing the tax measure will increase prices of basic goods and services.
Cardinal Vidal is also against the tax.
"How can they (consumers) survive?" he told reporters after officiating mass in Argao town for the inauguration of the Hall of Justice there.
For his part, Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. said there was no pressure from the Arroyo administration in their affirmation of the R-VAT Law.
"Nobody can ever pressure the Supreme Court. The public should understand that we affirmed the constitutionality of the VAT based on the law," he said during an interview yesterday in Argao. (Sun.Star Cebu)
(October 22, 2005 issue)
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Protestors fail to conquer Mendiola; Arroyo honors injured cops 