Militants Defy CPR
with ‘People’s Procession’
“Manila’s Finest” were all over the
university belt last Nov. 25 with their truncheons and shields, and some
seemed to be itching for a fight. It must have had something to do with
the form of protest chosen by the White Ribbon Movement (WRM) and the
Gloria Step Down Movement (GSM) – a “People’s Procession.”
BY ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO
Bulatlat
“Manila’s
Finest” – referring to the Western Police District (WPD) of the Philippine
National Police (PNP) – were all over the university belt last Nov. 25
with their truncheons and shields, and some seemed to be itching for a
fight as they banged their truncheons on their shields.
But they did
not disperse the protesters. This, even as Malacañang’s calibrated
preemptive response policy (CPR) entailing a blanket restriction on
rallies without permits is still in effect.
The White
Ribbon Movement (WRM) and the Gloria Step Down Movement (GSM) were the
organizers of the protest action dubbed as “People’s Procession” for
truth, justice, and human rights.
“This is a
real procession,” said Dr. Carol Pagaduan-Araullo, chairperson of the
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan or New Patriotic Alliance). “But we are
not denying that this is also a protest action.”
“It is for
truth because to this day there is no truth; justice especially for all
those killed, and human rights because oppression is continuous,” said Fr.
Joe Dizon, GSM convenor, at a press conference the day before announcing
the event.
President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has long been facing calls for her resignation
because of her government’s implementation of what cause-oriented groups
describe as “anti-national and anti-people” policies. These calls recently
intensified following renewed allegations that she cheated her way to
victory in the 2004 election, where she was supposed to have received a
fresh mandate three years after being catapulted to power through a
popular uprising.
Among the
issues against Macapagal-Arroyo pertaining to electoral fraud is the
existence of taped conversations between her and an election official
(widely believed to be election commissioner Virgilio Garcillano), wherein
she is heard instructing a man to rig the polls. Malacañang spokespersons
have been reported as saying the issue on what is now known as the “Hello
Garci” tapes is now a “closed” issue.
“But how can
this issue be closed when the lies continue?” Araullo said during the
procession.
Meanwhile,
the human rights group Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of People’s
Rights) has documented almost 5,000 cases of human rights violations since
January 2001, when Macapagal-Arroyo first assumed office. These include
over 400 cases of killings of activists, data from the human rights group
further show.
As the
killings escalate, the Macapagal-Arroyo administration is pushing for an
Anti-Terrorism Bill that has been hit by several groups – including the
National Union of Journalists of the Philippines – for its definition of
“terrorism” which may be construed to include legal protest actions in its
list of “terroristic” activities.
Before the
procession, a number of WRM members attended a mass at the San Miguel
Pro-cathedral near Malacañang. The mass was concelebrated by the San
Miguel Pro-cathedral’s parish priest, Msgr. Ernesto Cruz; and Fathers Joe
Dizon and Rudy Abao.
As the mass
was in progress, groups belonging to the GSM assembled and held short
prayer actions at three points: the Bustillos church in Sampaloc, Manila;
the San Sebastian Church along C.M. Recto Avenue, and Rizal Avenue in Sta.
Cruz. Each group had among its frontliners a priest and prayed the rosary
as it marched – making it clear to the anti-riot police that they were
facing a mobilization with religious elements.
The
protesters, with their frontliners carrying man-sized styrofoam crosses
bearing the words “truth,” “justice,” and “human rights” and many of them
bearing anti-administration placards, intended to converge at the foot of
the Don Chino Roces Bridge which leads to Malacañang Palace. However, they
were barred by anti-riot police from setting foot there.
They instead
settled for merging near the corners of C.M. Recto Avenue and Nicanor
Reyes Street, where they concluded the program. No violent dispersal took
place, although there were anti-riot police all around the areas where the
protesters assembled. Bulatlat
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