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Sunday, December 17, 2006
Gov't on full alert ahead of prayer rally
MANILA -- Soldiers and police were placed on full alert in the Philippine capital ahead of a planned prayer rally against a temporarily abandoned plan by pro-administration lawmakers to change the Constitution, officials said Saturday.
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National police spokesman, Chief Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao, said a 16,000-strong police task force called "Manila Shield" was activated Saturday to guard the rally while maintaining anti-crime operations.
National Police Director General Oscar Calderon said the police force in metropolitan Manila had been on full alert since late Friday for Sunday's rally in Manila's Rizal Park.
Marine Brigadier General Ben Mohammad Dolorfino, commander of the military's National Capital Region Command, also put his forces on red alert Friday and placed seven companies of soldiers on stand-by to help police contain any civil disturbance.
Organizers led by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines expect about 500,000 people to join the rally, which was originally scheduled to counter a plan by the House of Representatives, dominated by allies of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, to draft changes in the 1987 constitution on their own.
The plan, which would lead to the abolition of the opposition-oriented Senate, was widely denounced, prompting Arroyo to call it off on Thursday.
Aside from members of the Catholic Church, other religious groups that will attend the prayer rally, include the El Shaddai, the Jesus Is Lord Movement, the Iglesia Filipina Independiente and members of the Promotion of Church People's Response.
The prayer rally is in protest of what they feel is a "deceitful" manner of the administration lawmakers in pursuing amendments to the 1987 Constitution.
With today's prayer rally in Manila pushing through, Malacañang made a last-minute appeal to participants not to turn the event into a circus.
Presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor, for his part, said they are hoping that Charter change talks will quiet down after the rally Sunday.
Arroyo has argued that the present US-style government with a two-chamber legislature has caused gridlocks and prevented economic development, causing political instability. She has been pushing for a unicameral parliament led by a prime minister.
CBCP president Archbishop Angel Lagdameo has criticized the House move as "fraudulently illegitimate and scandalously immoral."
Bishops conference spokesman Monsignor Pedro Quitorio said Sunday's prayer rally will no longer focus on charter change.
"We feel that the Charter change is just the tip of the iceberg. There is so many problems that we are facing today and all these need so much prayer and watchfulness," he told ABS-CBN television.
Arroyo's National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales said he had received information that communist rebels plan to sabotage the rally, suggesting that guerrillas may even set off explosives in the crowds.
"I received credible intelligence information that provocateurs will attempt to sow civil disorder and violent confrontations during the prayer rally," Gonzales said.
He said he has already talked to Armed Forces of the Philippine Chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr. to ensure that checkpoints will be set up by the military's Southern Luzon Command and Northern Luzon Command in coordination with the police.
Director Alejandro Lapinid, police intelligence chief, said they have not received any report of any direct threat against the rally "but we are taking all precautionary measures to make sure no one takes advantage of the huge crowd."
Rep. Teddy Casino of the left-wing Bayan Muna party scoffed at Gonzales' statement, saying it was only meant to scare people.
Former President Corazon Aquino, the country's pro-democracy icon, has said she would join the rally. (AP/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (December 17, 2006 issue)
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