Wednesday, August 13, 2008 Guv orders dispersal of Balas boys' picket By Ian Ocampo Flora and Jovie T. de Leon
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Governor Eddie Panlilio has ordered Provincial Police Director Keith Singian to disperse "peacefully and without force" the former members of the Biyaya A Luluguran at Sisikapan (Balas) who have been staging a protest in front of the Capitol, this city.
Panlilio said he had directed the provincial police to take all possible caution to avoid tension.
Balas workers staged the protest to ask for the immediate resignation of Provincial Administrator Vivian Dabu.
On Monday night, City Police Director Benjamin Medina visited the protesters.
When asked by the media if there was an order to disperse them, he said: "There is none." He, however, asked the Balas boys if they have a permit to hold the rally.
Medina, who arrived with a couple of officers in the area, was briefed by Balas leaders regarding their protest.
The city police chief told the rallyists Monday night that he would not implement any dispersal order, "but to listen to your side and to ask about some other things like permits for this rally."
The two-hour talk slowly took the form of a casual and candid dialogue where Medina and Balas boys discussed the freedom of assembly and possible resolutions to their woes.
Medina said he went in the area to check on the security of the group, adding that the police always took on a neutral stance regarding such issues.
The protesters, on the other hand, assured Medina that the rally will be peaceful and that their return to the protest grounds will be non-violent but to only express their sentiments.
After hearing the side of Balas workers, Medina said he would confer with his superiors and make the necessary recommendations regarding the assembly.
Balas boys said they failed to secure the needed permits, but they will not leave Arnedo Park at the Capitol grounds.
They cited the Bayan vs Ermita case wherein the Supreme Court (SC) ruled that no permit is required in any public park.
Fil Rodriguez, a Balas leader, said they have the right to assemble at the Capitol grounds and air their sentiments against the Provincial Government.
"It is our right to assemble, this is a public park," he said.
The priest-turned-governor, however, said that Arnedo Park is not a freedom park and that the City of San Fernando has not declared it as such.
In a media interview, Governor Panlilio said the dispersal order still stands.
He, however, clarified there is no truth to claims that he has ordered the dispersal "at all cost."
"I have repeatedly cautioned Colonel Singian to disperse them peacefully," Panlilio said.
It was learned that Singian called some leaders of the protesters to a dialogue about the dispersal. However, no tangible resolution has been achieved as of Tuesday afternoon.
Panlilio, meanwhile, gave a little glimmer of hope to the Balas workers, saying: "I am waiting (in my office) if they want to talk."
