Photo Essay
Reclaiming Mendiola, Water Cannons and
Truncheons Notwithstanding
April 6 is considered a
victory for protesters as 3,000 demonstrators managed to reach Don Chino
Roces bridge (near Malacañang Palace in Manila) after it has been declared
as a “no-rally zone” as part of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s
calibrated preemptive response (CPR).
BY ZOFIA LEAL
Bulatlat
The mass action was
against charter change that the Arroyo administration is pushing through a
people’s initiative. The rallyists also called for the immediate ouster of
the President. This was led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan or New
Patriotic Alliance), People’s Movement Against Charter Change (People’s
March) and Gloria Step Down Movement (GSM).
The protesters
gathered at around 10 a.m. at the Sto. Domingo church in Quezon City
carrying with them banners and streamers opposing charter change and the
Arroyo administration. Militant youth groups like Youth Against Charter
Change of Trapos (Y-CHAT) and National Union of Students in the
Philippines (NUSP) came up with creative ways to get their message
across. Following from the statement of President Arroyo that the ‘train
has left the station’ regarding the Charter Change, some youth protesters
dressed as traffic aides.
Before the march,
brief speeches were made by Renato Reyes, secretary-general of Bayan and
former Vice-President Teofisto Guingona Jr. Mother Mary John Manansan
(Benedictine Sisters) led a prayer hoping that the people may be spared
from another Martial Law. Reyes then challenged the people to march even
if they have not secured a permit and to make their voices heard. For his
part, Guingona explained how the administration’s camp uses deceit and
bribery to push for charter change.
The march started at
around 11 a.m. and protesters reached Mabuhay Rotonda. However, they got
divided when the police ran to barricade the others while trying to cross
the street.
A negotiation took
place between the police and the protesters to let them pass. Both the
police and the protesters stood firm. After a few minutes, a line of
protesters stayed facing the police while the other rallyists were already
walking towards the Sampaloc area. The protesters who were blocked managed
to elude the police by pretending to disperse, marching first to E.
Rodriguez Avenue and then turning right towards Sto. Tomas Street. They
eventually converged as they marched towards Mendiola.
While marching,
protesters felt the support of the masses as they were offered water to
quench their thirst. The protesters rested for a while when they reached
the Sto. Tomas Street.
The protesters
marched though Fajardo Street, then passed Bustillos Street and eventually
came out at Mendiola.
The police were
unprepared to face the 3,000-strong protesters. The latter managed to
remove the fence placed before them and came face to face with the
police.
For about 15 minutes,
the protesters held a program at the Don Chino Roces bridge (formerly
Mendiola). A sense of victory can be seen in the faces of the rallyists
as they ‘reclaimed’ Mendiola.
Negotiations between
the protesters and the police were ongoing when the former were doused
with water coming from a fire truck.
The protesters were
forced to retreat to Recto Avenue as they got truncheoned by police
officers. Meanwhile, a group was pushed and pinned against the fire truck.
Even if the
protesters were already retreating, the police still aimed the water
cannon towards them.
The protesters then
proceeded to España Street
and announced an organized dispersal.
They remain undaunted and the water cannon
did nothing but to strengthen their resolve.
Bulatlat
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© 2006 Bulatlat
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