Friday, October 10, 2008 Protesters put up 'longest streamer' By Jovi T. de Leon
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The protesting former members of the Biyaya A Luluguran At Sisikapan (Balas) installed the other day what they call the longest protest streamer so far in their two-month old picket at Arnedo Park.
The streamer, about 30 feet long and 3 feet wide, contains a series of close-up photographs of Provincial Administrator Vivian Dabu and several questions directed to the Capitol executives regarding their position on the grievances of the sacked quarrymen.
Roperlee Syquia, Governor Eddie Panlilio's former social services aide and a staunch supporter of the protesters, said it is the longest streamer they have installed in front of the Capitol, on top of the alleged defamatory and libelous signs they have reinstalled early last week.
Syquia added that the streamer contains no defamatory remarks and just "questions" designed to generate answers from the Capitol executives. "The streamers are just asking questions," he said.
On Monday, Panlilio and Dabu filed charges of libel, grave slander and oral defamation, alarms and scandal and unjust vexation against five former Balas leaders and the governor's former chief of staff, including 39 other dismissed quarry checkers calling for their ouster.
They said the Balas boys' streamers and posters, as well as remarks publicly voiced, are "below the belt" and scandalous.
On Thursday morning, Dabu said she has told their legal counsel to file one more count of libel against the protesters after she received information that a new streamer has been installed.
She said she has not seen the streamer, but has nevertheless notified her lawyer to file one count or charge more for every sign that they install in the capitol's front.
"I have asked our lawyer to file additional counts for every new sign they put there," she said, "and additional daily counts for rounds their 'truck attack' makes here."
On Sunday, Dabu oversaw two foiled attempts by the combined forces of the Capitol's civil security group and general services office to dismantle and confiscate the protest streamers. The Sunday showdown resulted two clashes and an overnight standoff.
Former Balas leaders Alex Pineda, Chris Ocampo, Edu de leon and Fil Rodriguez said they are consulting with their respective lawyers on these charges and that they are ready to face their complainants in court.
"Definitely," said Rodriguez, "we will clear our names regarding these and the other alleged anomalies we are being accused of."
