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Tuesday, March 04, 2008
9 activists who heckled Arroyo nabbed
MANILA -- Philippine police detained and charged nine activists who heckled President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as she attended a celebration of women's month Monday, police said.
Arroyo was leading the ceremony in Calamba, Laguna, 60 kilometers southeast of Manila, when activists from the left-wing May One Labor Movement started shouting "Oust Gloria!"
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
Chief Superintendent Ricardo Padilla, regional director of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 4-A, said the nine activists would be charged with alarm and scandal.
They are Antonio Prescella and Nante Ecledea of Bayan Muna party-list; Mark Anthony Velasco, Vladimir Orca, and Ivy Jade Tañedo of the Kabataan party-list; University of the Philippines (UP) student Angelo Dangalan; and Eric Paco, Vicfer Siangco, and Federico Torres.
The arrested militants, a television report said Monday night, were later released by the Calamba police.
Brigadier General Romeo Prestoza, commander of the Presidential Security Group (PSG), said President Arroyo was releasing balloons when the nine militants shouted slogans calling for Arroyo's ouster.
Prestoza said Arroyo did not hear what the "hecklers" shouted because they were too far and there were many people around, but she noticed the commotion.
According to him, the President would still push through with her activities abroad despite the heckling. He also said security around the President would still be tight, but some things, such as heckling, could not be prevented.
Arroyo was also heckled by militant student Ma. Theresa Panganiban when she attended the graduation rites of the Cavite State University on April 21, 2006. This was followed by another attempt that was thwarted by stricter inspections of authorities.
Gender parity
In her speech at the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (Cedaw), Arroyo said: "Cedaw not 'sigaw (shout)' is our tool against poverty." The President was apparently alluding to the series of protests against her administration.
She said Cedaw upholds and strengthens the rights of Filipino women, which is why the United Nations (UN) cited the Philippines last year for the biggest decline in discrimination against women.
Arroyo added that the World Economic Forum also recognized the Philippines as the only Asian country in the world's Top 10 when it comes to gender parity.
She said the Philippines is "on schedule" when it comes to meeting the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in terms of gender equality by 2015, including eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, reducing child mortality, combating the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Aids), fighting malaria and other diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability, and developing a global partnership for development.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said resignation calls would only make President Arroyo more determined to finish her term to ensure the completion of her economic program.
Fajardo called on former president Corazon Aquino, who is also calling for Arroyo's resignation, to "be an agent of development and not discord." She said the people await the gains of the economic reforms and the opposition should heed their desire for socio-political stability.
"Election is just around the corner. Let's buckle down to work," she said. (JMR/Sunnex/With AP)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cebu. (March 4, 2008 issue)
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Ex-Cabinet officials give Arroyo a week to comply demands