Baguio Groups, Leaders Hit GMA For Ignoring Them

By ARTEMIO ALEGRE DUMLAO

BAGUIO CITY -- Militant groups and members of the Estrada Resign Movement have begun casting doubt on the sincerity of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in "healing the wounds of the country."

The groups led by the Cordillera Peoples Alliance, other Baguio residents as well as local political leaders lambasted Arroyo for "snubbing" them during what was supposedly a consultation in barangay Gibraltar here last February 17.

Mary Audrey Beltran, who spoke in behalf of the "disgusted" groups, berated the Presidential Management Staff for the incident. According to Beltran, they had been informed the PMS of their presence and willingness to present to the President their demands and concerns during the consultation.

Worse, Beltran said,  the police and the Presidential Security Group forcibly took away their banners and tore some of their placards that bore such issues as the call for a stop to the construction of the San Roque Dam.

Even lawyer Concepcion Luis, President Arroyo's Bigkis Pinoy coordinator here, was appalled by how things worked out, when the militant groups were not allowed to speak to Arroyo and present their issues and demands.

Baguio City Councilor Richard Carino, a leading convenor of the Estrada Resign Movement that mobilized thousands of Baguio and Benguet residents to force Estrada to step down,  also questioned why they were not allowed to the stage.

Nine presentors from nongovernment organizations that the militants branded as "affluent" and influenced by local politicians spoke of issues and concerns which, the militants said, “did not mirror the genuine issues of the people.”

A supposed lunch meeting at the Mansion House was earlier scheduled on that day with representatives of the militant groups but was canceled. They were instead advised to instead go to the multi-sectoral dialogue in the afternoon.  “It turned out that we were there for nothing,” Beltran said.

"To build our land, the government has to recognize the masses, the backbone of the nation, and not ignore them.  To heal our land, the government has to ease the suffering of the people by at least giving them the assurance that they are heard, and not slight them,"  she added.

The militants feared that the incident showed signs that the leadership of President Arroyo might just be similar to past administrations -- or even worse.

"Fears"

Among those signals, according to Beltran, is the fact that former President Estrada' has not been arrested.

She also cited the non-release of the more than 200 political prisoners around the country despite pronouncements made by Malacanang.

Beltran also noted the commitment of Arroyo to pursue "free market" as a paradigm for her economic goals for the country.  “Rather than upholding the interest of the peasants and workers who bear the brunt of liberalization, deregulation and privatization,  she chose to follow the path of globalization,” she said.

At the PMA Alumni homecoming, also on February 17,  Arroyo indeed spoke of following the “economic order of the 21st century” while looking forward to protecting Filipino enterprises in a "level playing field".

But the President, Beltran said, failed to listen to the cries for justice and meaningful change, even as she earlier reiterated at the PMA that she needed the whole nation to help her become a good president. #