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Saturday, February 16, 2008
Palace: Filipinos tired of mass actions
MANILA -- Thousands of protesters on Friday converged at Ayala Avenue in Makati City to protest alleged corruption in the government, including the controversial national broadband network (NBN)-ZTE deal, and at the same time demand the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
But Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Avelino Razon Jr. said he does not see a repeat of the two people's power revolts that ousted two sitting presidents amid the protest rallies in Makati City.
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Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said if anything was proven by Friday's rally, it is the fact that Filipinos are already tired of these mass actions.
Bunye said the number in the rally was even smaller compared to previous mass actions, which only show that their supporters are already waning.
The demonstrators Friday were composed of members of various civil society, militant, youth groups, business, and church groups.
Political personalities and government officials present at the rally site were Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, Makati Business Club (MBC) president Alberto Lim, San Juan Mayor Jose Victor Ejercito, former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr., and Fr. Robert Reyes.
The rally program started at 4 p.m. It was organized by the United Opposition (UNO) and the militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan).
Organizers said people who participated in the rally reached 20,000, but the PNP estimated the crowd only at 8,000.
Unlike past rallies held in the country, not a single politician joined Friday's protest.
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) deployed 2,000 policemen to maintain peace and order in the area.
President Arroyo, during Friday's Philippine Economic Forum at the Shangri-la Hotel in Makati City, reminded government officials, including politicians, that their allegiance should remain with Filipinos and the country, urging the 2010 presidentiables to set aside their personal ambitions at the moment to focus on stability and moving the country forward.
Arroyo refused to comment about the protests against her organized by her critics and some opposition members.
She lashed back at her critics whom she accused of prioritizing their personal ambitions over the interest of the majority.
"There are too many who cloak themselves in easy rhetoric and lazy charges who would put personal ambition ahead of national progress. We call on our political leaders, of all parties and preferences, to look for our future. We call on them to ensure stability for the sake of the nation. Let us put aside partisan wrangling, as candidates jockey for the presidency," she added.
Arroyo said it is the Philippines as a nation and Filipinos, whom the government and its officials should serve, that "we owe our allegiance and dedication to advance this nation every single day."
The PNP chief doubted that Friday's rally could pave the way for another people power. He said: "The people are tired of people power and what they want is our country to grow, more jobs, and continuing growth of our economy."
"I don't see any (repeat of the revolts). I think the people have grown tired to those kinds of (activities) and they just would want the country to move on," he said.
Razon said the people also want the economy to move forward. "(The people) want our economy to be stronger, have job and the country progress. These people power, coup d' etat, only cause distraction in moving forward," he said.
Asked if he is foreseeing an Edsa power like protest rallies, Razon said: "I do not know, but if there are gatherings, for as long they remain peaceful then that should be of no concern to us that remains a police problem in terms of putting order to all these things."
"But if there are violent actions against that group or coming from within that group in terms of infiltrators, then it becomes a security problem that would involve the military. That's why we have deemed it necessary to put our forces in full alertness," he added.
Razon placed the police force on heightened alert status amid protest in Makati and reports of an assassination plot against President Arroyo.
The PNP chief unveiled the details on the assassination plot on the President, saying, "The documents recovered from a parking lot, outlined a plan to monitor several locations and individuals to include the President."
On concerns for the security of vital installations and other points of convergence in Metro Manila, PNP spokesman Nicanor Bartolome said: "The PNP is adopting appropriate security measures and continues its intelligence monitoring to insure public safety and preempt any terrorist activities in the country."
He appealed to the public to remain calm and vigilant just as he brushed aside insinuations that the assassination plot on the President is but a diversionary tactic aimed at veering away the attention of the public to the ZTE scandal.
"The PNP is a professional organization. We will not get involved in partisan politics. We will continue to do our job to secure the public and maintain peace and order in our communities," Bartolome added. (JRDB/VR/JMR/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (February 16, 2008 issue)
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