Filtered By: Topstories
News

Con-ass protests may escalate into People Power, Arroyo House allies warned


MANILA, Philippines – Massive protests against Charter change might escalate into something as big as a People Power revolution if the House of Representatives, which is dominated by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s allies, insists on convening itself into a constituent assembly that will change the 1987 Constitution. Political leaders made the warning Tuesday, on the eve of the scheduled rally at Makati City against the chamber’s approval of House Resolution 1109, which might pave the way for a Senate-less constituent assembly that will amend the 22-year-old charter. Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay said neither the rain nor the Influenza A(H1N1) virus will stop the 20,000 people set to protest at the city’s central business district. “We hope that this will lead to another people power revolution. This might be the tipping point," said Binay, who is also president of the United Opposition. “This is not a rally of politicians. This is a rally of all sectors. This is an indignation rally against con-ass. We urge other local officials to issue permits to other groups which intends to hold their protests against con-ass in their localities. Rain or [shine], we will be there," said the opposition leader. Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo and other lawmakers told GMANews.TV through text that the Arroyo administration and House leadership’s response to the rally would dictate what would happen in the coming days. “If it (the con-ass convening ) pushes through, protest actions will escalate," Ocampo said. Muntinlupa City Rep. Ruffy Biazon of the Liberal Party agreed: “I think it [Wednesday’s rally] is the start of a series of people’s action vs con-ass, the intensity of which will depend on how the pro con-ass people will react." Snowballing protests Speaker Prospero Nograles had earlier said one of the House leadership’s options is to convene into a constituent assembly around the time of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address in July. The move is supposedly meant to provoke oppositors into taking the issue to the Supreme Court, which would then be compelled to rule on whether the two chambers of Congress should vote jointly or separately on specific amendments to the Constitution. “If they push through with their plan, then they should expect bigger and louder protests," Biazon said, adding that he would be present at the Makati rally. Independent congressman Eduardo Nonato Joson of Nueva Ecija said that protest movements would intensify in the next two weeks, although these might wane later on due to financing constraints. “Pag nag-convene [ang] Congress as a constituent body, malaki na naman rallies [But if Congress convenes into a constituent body, the rallies will get big again]," Joson said. Rep. Raymond Palatino of Kabataan party-list said protests against the House of Representatives’ swift approval of House Resolution 1109 last week would likely “snowball" in the coming weeks. “Once classes start in college, students with faculty and administration will join street actions," said Palatino, who will be leading hundreds of youth activists to Makati City. Rep. Luz Ilagan of Gabriela likewise said protests against Charter change would intensify, adding that there would also be rallies tomorrow in urban centers outside Manila, like in Davao City. 'What's all the fuss about?' Critics of the administration claim that Mrs. Arroyo’s House allies only want to change the Charter to extend their terms and that of the President. But Nograles on Tuesday reiterated that they would not tinker with term provisions, adding that HR 1109 binds them to that specific commitment. “I wonder what’s all the fuss about our [HR 1109] when in fact, it was clearly printed that we are against any form of term extension including that of President Arroyo," Nograles said. “Does it mean that they are protesting the House resolution that doesn’t want to extend the President’s term?" he said. Nograles jokingly added that organizers of the protest should forewarn participants on making close bodily contact due to the threat of the A(H1N1) virus. Nueva Ecija Rep. Rodolfo Antonino, one of the most vocal supporters of HR 1109, said the rallies would not deter the House from taking its next steps. “We respect everybody’s right to their opinion in public rallies, and so it does not deter us. Actually we would love to hear what their arguments are, although it is well ventilated in media," he said in a telephone interview. Antonino said the House would take the session break to dialogue with HR 1109’s critics. “There is no plan [to convene into a constituent assembly this July] per se. There are intentions, but there are no timelines yet at this point. We basically are looking toward this break in order to dialogue with those that are opposed to 1109, and hopefully we can come to some consensus on how we shall proceed," he said. La Union Rep. Victor Ortega, chair of the committee on constitutional amendments, likewise said the rally would probably not affect the next step of the House leadership, whatever it would be. “Isang hiling ko lang sana tahimik at mapayapa, orderly, para wala sanang gulo [My only wish is that the rally be peaceful and orderly, hopefully there will be no violence]," Ortega said in a telephone interview. ’Don’t hog the limelight’ Aside from opposition congressmen, senators including presidential aspirants Senators Manuel “Mar" Roxas II and Francis Escudero are also expected to show up at the rally. Opposition leader and former president Joseph Estrada would not be able to attend the rally because he left for the Middle East early this morning upon a request made by the Filipino community there two months ago, according to his spokesperson Margaux Salcedo. Estrada’s son and San Juan City Mayor JV Ejercito will instead represent the deposed president in the rally and read out Estrada’s statement, Salcedo said in a telephone interview. But senior deputy minority leader and Parañaque City Rep. Roilo Golez said politicians should refrain from attending the mass action. “If politicians come out this close to 2010, the effort could be called simply political noise on the way to 2010. Better let the non-political multi-sectoral groups run the show and lead the way," said Golez. Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Angel Lagdameo said that while it was OK for politicians to attend the rally, they should stay out of the spotlight. "Makisama sila sa protesta kontra con-ass bukas sa Makati ay OK lang. Pero ang hamon ko sa kanila na sana hindi sana nila gagamitin ang naturang rally para sa sarili nilang interes, para sa kanilang kampanya, lalo pa nga at nalalapit na ang eleksyon," said the bishop. [It's OK if they join the protest against con-ass in Makati on Wednesday. But I challenge them not to use the rally for their own interest, for their campaign, especially now that the elections are approaching.] "[Their] presence will speak loud enough," added Lagdameo. Maximum tolerance According to Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina, police and participating groups have agreed to coordinate with each other to ensure peace and orderliness in Wednesday’s event. In a statement, Espina said participating groups will assemble at 3 p.m. in six different locations in Makati City before marching to the public assembly venue at the corner of Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas at 4 p.m. The program, which would begin 5 p.m., is expected to end at exactly 8 p.m., but participants will be given 15 minutes to voluntarily disperse, he said. Espina said the national police has activated Task Force Manila Shield to ensure that the event will be “peaceful and orderly." He assured that the PNP units to be deployed in various areas for Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) operations have been told to “observe maximum tolerance at all times, even when provoked." Makati City Police head Senior Superintendent Cedric Train said 100 policemen from the city will be deployed outside the perimeter of the rally site to prevent any tension between the police and the participants. “We will be just outside the perimeter of the rally site. We will observe maximum tolerance. We will be there to secure them, assist non-participants in the rally, monitoring and continuous patrolling. We will respect the constitutional rights of the [demonstrators]. The organizers assured us that this will be a peaceful rally. They (rally organizers) will managed the rally and we will assist them," Train said. However, Espina said police would be on the lookout for possible infiltration by “saboteurs, terrorists, dissidents and troublemakers." “We invite the organizers and participants in tomorrow’s mass actions to seriously take these possibilities into consideration by policing their own ranks against infiltrators," he said. “As a final note, let me remind everyone that freedom of expression is not absolute, it is limited within the bounds of law," added the PNP spokesman. - GMANews.TV
LOADING CONTENT