Saturday, September 27, 2008 Protesting quarrymen worry about rally permit issuance By Jovi T. De Leon
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Protesting quarry workers belonging to the Biyaya A Luluguran at Sisikapan (Balas) are facing a blank wall as to where they will seek permit for their rally at Arnedo Park.
This after Governor Eddie Panlilio closed the permit window for the sacked Balas boys when he asserted control and jurisdiction over the controversial "Freedom Park" at the Capitol premises.
In a letter to City of San Fernando Mayor Oscar Rodriguez, Panlilio said the park is within the jurisdiction of the Capitol and that the City Government has no power to issue permits to any group planning to stage rallies in the area.
The City Government previously issued permits to protesters who staged big rallies on September 17 and 22.
"May I remind you that the Macario Arnedo Park is within the Capitol compound and owned by the Pampanga Provincial Government," Panlilio told Rodriguez. "The Capitol compound might be located within your city but administration and governance over it is lodged within the Provincial Government."
"I am asserting that permits should not be issued by your office to any applicant who wishes to make use of the Macario Arnedo Park for whatever purpose they intend to utilize it," the governor also said in the letter.
For his part, Rodriguez said the City Government will adhere to the Panlilio’s directive.
"Now that the governor is asserting jurisdiction over Arnedo Park, we will be refraining in issuing permits for its use," Rodriguez said.
"We will only issue permits within the areas of the city, which are not under the Capitol's jurisdiction," he added.
As this developed, protesting Balas members are in a quandary on where to get the permits to make their stay in the park legal.
They said the City Government has denied its latest application of rally permit.
Even the Capitol's General Services Office refused to issue permit to us, they added.
The protesters have been on the picket line for three days sans permit.
Former Balas leader Alex Pineda said: "We would stay here and stand firmly by our call for the governor to resign."
Earlier, Panlilio issued a statement citing that Provincial Board (PB) Resolution No. 1338, which declared Arnedo Park as Freedom Park, as invalid.
After the statement was released, the streamers and posters bearing adverse comments against Panlilio were dismantled.
Provincial Administrator Vivian Dabu reportedly ordered for the removal of the protest materials.
