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Monday, May 01, 2006
Police, military on highest alert in Labor Day
MANILA -- The police and military went on a maximum state of alert on Sunday for the Labor Day protest rallies even as officials warned protesters against proceeding to Malacañang to press for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's ouster.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) declared the full alert while the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) went on the red alert effective 12 noon Sunday in anticipation of untoward incidents that may mar the activities. The alert status of both forces is on a nationwide basis.
Members of the opposition in the House of Representatives have remained doubtful that the Palace would again impose a martial law-like scenario as hundreds of thousands of rallyists and demonstrators, including opposition leaders, would join protests in connection with the celebration of the Labor Day.
Party-list Representatives Crispin Beltran of Anakpawis and Satur Ocampo and Teodoro Casiño of Bayan Muna said it is not impossible that Malacañang would re-impose emergency powers similar to that of Proclamation 1017, which Arroyo declared on February 24 to ensure that she would remain in office.
The rightist and leftist groups said they plan to mass up around 500,000 protestors at the vicinity of Malacañang. If a critical mass is reached, factions within the AFP may withdraw support from the President.
A document, confiscated from arrested Oakwood mutineer First Lieutenant Lawrence San Juan, also indicated that the massing-up would be in coordination with strikes from the Makabayang Kawal Pilipino, also known as the Magdalo Group.
But the military and police said that their preparations were primarily to maintain peace and order during the protest rallies to be mounted by labor and anti-government groups and not due to destabilization or plan to grab power.
"There is no specific threat or information that there is a threat of destabilization, our preparations are for the activities tomorrow. Our mission is to ensure peace and order during the observance of the Labor Day," said PNP Spokesman Samuel Pagdilao.
Pagdilao reminded the rallyists to abide by the provisions of the Batas Pambansa 880 or the Public Safety Law, which authorizes people to assemble, provided they get permissions from concerned local government units.
The Manila and the Quezon City governments have authorized a number of areas where rallyists can converge and expressed themselves. The areas include the People Power Monument in Edsa, Liwasang Bonifacio, Plaza Miranda, among others.
Police warned that the historic Edsa Shrine, site of the two successful Edsa revolts, and Mendiola, where supporters of former President Joseph Estrada converged and later attempted to seize Malacañang, are not in the list of permitted rally sites.
National Capital Region Police Office Chief Vidal Querol said rallyists who attempt to proceed to the two areas would be dispersed. A total of 5,000 policemen are due to be deployed for crowd management.
"They (rallyists) have to get permits. The problem is that the rallyists are used to doing wrong things. What we are saying is that going to Mendiola is not a simple disobedience but a violation of the law," Querol said.
A number of labor and leftist groups affiliated with the political opposition plan to proceed to Mendiola to air their concerns. Groups identified with Estrada were due to converge as early as 4 a.m. at the Club Filipino in San Juan and march to Mendiola.
This is the first major protest rally to be held since the Supreme Court declared about two weeks ago as unconstitutional the calibrated pre-emptive response (CPR), which the police used as basis in dispersing almost every anti-government rallies in the past several months.
Querol said the PNP is not against the holding of rallies as long as they are done on a peaceful manner.
"There is no problem with freedom of expression. I respect the right to freedom of expression," he said.
For the military side, AFP Public Information Office Deputy Chief Earl Evan Pabalan said the higher headquarters imposed the red alert status for possible untoward incident.
"This is procedural," said Pabalan of the declaration, adding that they have declared similar alert status in the past Labor Days "and this is aimed maintaining the vigilance of our troops for any unusual activity that may disrupt peaceful activities on May 1."
Asked of any threat from the military ranks to launch destabilization efforts coinciding with the Labor Day, Pabalan said: "This is base from documented report and intelligence report that there are unscrupulous elements who want to take advantage of the peaceful rallies and celebrations that happen every May 1."
Malacañang has warned the public that President would not hesitate to declare a proclamation similar of that of Proclamation 1017 if the government will be placed under threat.
But Presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor said they are not expecting any violent dispersal despite the massive street protests, mostly in Metro Manila, to mark the Labor Day celebration.
Defensor said while authorities would be observing maximum tolerance, rallyists should do their part by adhering to the rule of law which includes observing the bar on rallies along the Mendiola Bridge.
"We are taking a maximum tolerance position. If they rally to Mendiola, they will be forewarned. All the maximum tolerance procedures will be observed," he said. He added that forcing their way to Mendiola would put them and their supporters "in a dangerous situation."
He said Mendiola, despite being witness to violent demonstrations in the past, has been declared to be a "no-rally zone" by Manila Mayor Jose "Lito" Atienza for several reasons, including the security aspect and the traffic that would result from such event.
Atienza said several permits had been released to rallyists but it does not include allowing them to go to Mendiola. He said those who want to rally in Mendiola had been advised and allowed to go elsewhere.
He said Mendiola had already been witnessed to the Mendiola massacre in 1987 where 17 farmers died after authorities lost control of the situation. He said they do not want a repeat of the event.
Security around Malacañang had been tight during the weekend as detailed members of the Presidential Security Group were increased and armed with long firearms and in full battle gears.
Security checks for those visiting the Malacañang area are also conducted while the Mendiola gate has been closed to traffic since Thursday.
Presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio assured rallyists that the government and police authorities would continue to respect and protect the rights of protestors even if they express political sentiments, including their grievances against the government.
"(But) for the sake of the country, they must however stay within the bounds of law because our law enforcers are forsworn to maintain peace and order and to defend the rights of millions of other Filipinos whose welfare will be prejudiced by any unlawful disorder or destruction that may be caused by unruly demonstrations," Claudio said.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said there are still some groups that continue to plot mayhem and destabilization and they may even attempt to muddle the Labor Day celebration by creating mayhem on the streets.
Bunye said "these misguided elements of our society" thought that just because the Supreme Court had nullified the CPR policy, they are now "licensed to promote anarchy in our streets."
Meanwhile, Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas announced that government will give to public and private workers on Monday a P40-billion non-wage package in commemoration of Labor Day.
Sto. Tomas said Arroyo will announce the contents of the package in a meeting with moderate labor unions in Malacañang Monday noon. She said the package is "pretty substantial" but she cannot divulge its contents because Arroyo will be the one to make the announcement.
But she admitted that it would include scholarships and training vouchers for call center agents worth P500 million. (VR/DBP/JMR/Sunnex)
(May 1, 2006 issue)
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