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Monday, February 27, 2006
Rallies were peaceful: Police
RALLYISTS continued their program Friday despite the proclamation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that the country be placed under the state of emergency.
After Arroyo's proclamation, Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor announced on the same day that all rallies would be dispersed and permits issued are revoked.
While Edsa rallyists and the Philippine National Police (PNP) made a scene in Manila after the proclamation, the rally that was held in the city was peaceful, according to police.
of the rally at the Provincial Capitol Grounds said the rally has been peaceful.
Inspector Dan Deocampo, ground PNP officer of the rally said his men and the leaders of the two rally groups -- Provincial Capitol Grounds and beside Museo Iloilo --- made a negotiation where the latter assured of retaining peace in its area.
For this reason, he said, his men has not forced dispersal to the rallyists.
Rallyists
Groups that held rallies at the Provincial Capitol grounds were FDC, PM, BMP, Laban ng Masa, and trisikad drivers of Nabitasan and Bolilao.
Those beside Museo Iloilo were Bayan, Gabriela, Pamanggas, PCPR, Alliance of Public Sector Employees, Kaisog, Anakbayn, KMU and Piston, among others.
The group in Provincial Capitol was issued a permit by Governor Niel D. Tupas Sr. while those beside Museo Iloilo has not applied for permit of the Mayor.
No need for permit
Spokesperson of Bayan Panay Aurelio Bosque said they need not secure permit since the constitution provides for it.
Bosque added that the PNP stopped their co-rallyists who marched from Amigo Terrace Hotel Area from joining them.
"They (PNP) said there has been a directive to disperse us," said Bosque.
However, FDC's group stayed in the Provincial Capitol for hours. Most of them were trisikad drivers who have stopped faring for half a day.
A driver said there were a hundred of them who have joined the rally.
Suppression
Meanwhile, Bosque said the Arroyo's proclamation declaring state of emergency, is suppressing their freedom of expression provided for by the constitution.
He added that this was no less a sign of the administration's fear of destabilization, which occurs the same day when the Edsa People Power I 20th anniversary would be celebrated.
"There could have been 80,000 of us this day but because of the dispersal that happened in Manila, the number was not realized," said Bosque.
Bosque said the proclamation would never affect their plight for Arroyo's ouster through peaceful rallies.
He said there were estimated 500 people who have joined them.
Not suppression
Meanwhile, former Iloilo vice governor Ramon Duremdes said Arroyo's proclamation was for the purpose of informing the people and to regulate things in order to ensure peace and order.
He also defended the President's act of conducting a loyalty check among the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
"A loyalty check is routine and she is the Commander-in-Chief of the AFP. The military is a key organization so she has to be assured that they are loyal to her or the Constitution. It's natural to have agitators in the military, as this is composed of thousands of people. So, one has to be vigilant, to check and to be careful if one's people are still loyal," said Duremdes.
"For me, this is all normal, although not very ideal. A little disturbance of peace and order can be expected. Sometimes, the system can be like that. A minor thing is blown out of proportion. For example, if it's only a fever, one will say it's typhoid fever. Though not ideal, the atmosphere does not warrant a drastic action," he said.
Price increases
Meanwhile, in anticipation of possible price increases in consumer goods after the declaration of the state of emergency, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Iloilo urges consumers to report any of such cases to (033) 3350149 and 5098111.
They could also go to the DTI Iloilo office at the Ground Floor of DTI Building, JM Basa Street, Iloilo City. They can also e-mail to dtiilo@info.com.ph or dti_iloilo@yahoo.com. (KVC/LABB)
(February 25, 2006 issue)
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