Students, militant groups stage lightning rally vs con-ass
06/30/2009 | 07:02 PM
Some 5,000-strong students and young professionals could not wait until the massive protest action scheduled Friday to demonstrate their protest against the proposed constituent assembly (con-ass) as they staged a lightning rally at Malacañang Monday.
The rally was participated in by students from various schools such as the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Adamson’s University, University of the Philippines-Manila and Diliman, De La Salle University, College of St. Benilde, St. Scholastica’s College, Jose Rizal University and Arellano University.
Militant groups Anakpawis, Bayan, Gabriela and Bayan Muna joined the students.
The protesters came in droves after a small number of demonstrators belonging to the Movement of the Youth for Empowerment, Reform, Advocacy and Progress (my ERAP) staged a lighting rally to oppose con-ass and to “serve an eviction notice" to President Arroyo in Malacañang Monday morning, but were instead turned away by anti-riot police and Presidential Security Group (PSG) at the J.P. Rizal gate of the Palace on San Miguel Street, Manila.
The demonstrators were also forced to cancel a planned Mass at the St. Jude Shrine and a scheduled press briefing at the Max’s Restaurant on JP Laurel Street around 8 a.m.
Around 50 group members who were already inside the church and the restaurant for their planned activities were escorted out of the premises by the PSG personnel and operatives of the National Capital Region Office Mobile Group (NCRPO-RMG) and the Manila Police District (MPD).
The other group members who were heading to St. Jude Church and Max’s Restaurant were also barred from entering the premises by the PSG personnel and police.
In a statement, the myERAP said, “Today (June 30) marks one year before Mrs. Arroyo is scheduled to step down under the Constitution. It is a Constitution, which Arroyo through her allies in Congress wants to mutilate to allow her to stay in power beyond 2010."
Around 3:30 pm, students from the University Belt started convening and moving toward the Liwasang Bonifacio (formerly Plaza Lawton), Manila, where they held a program while a local band joined to rally the crowd.
Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim joined the protest rally briefly. Also in attendance were former United Opposition spokesman Adel Tamano and constitutionalist Harry Roque.
Tamano, who is head of the PLM, said that the students came to the rally of their own accord and not from any pressure to join. - GMANews.TV
The rally was participated in by students from various schools such as the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Adamson’s University, University of the Philippines-Manila and Diliman, De La Salle University, College of St. Benilde, St. Scholastica’s College, Jose Rizal University and Arellano University.
Militant groups Anakpawis, Bayan, Gabriela and Bayan Muna joined the students.
The protesters came in droves after a small number of demonstrators belonging to the Movement of the Youth for Empowerment, Reform, Advocacy and Progress (my ERAP) staged a lighting rally to oppose con-ass and to “serve an eviction notice" to President Arroyo in Malacañang Monday morning, but were instead turned away by anti-riot police and Presidential Security Group (PSG) at the J.P. Rizal gate of the Palace on San Miguel Street, Manila.
The demonstrators were also forced to cancel a planned Mass at the St. Jude Shrine and a scheduled press briefing at the Max’s Restaurant on JP Laurel Street around 8 a.m.
Around 50 group members who were already inside the church and the restaurant for their planned activities were escorted out of the premises by the PSG personnel and operatives of the National Capital Region Office Mobile Group (NCRPO-RMG) and the Manila Police District (MPD).
The other group members who were heading to St. Jude Church and Max’s Restaurant were also barred from entering the premises by the PSG personnel and police.
In a statement, the myERAP said, “Today (June 30) marks one year before Mrs. Arroyo is scheduled to step down under the Constitution. It is a Constitution, which Arroyo through her allies in Congress wants to mutilate to allow her to stay in power beyond 2010."
Around 3:30 pm, students from the University Belt started convening and moving toward the Liwasang Bonifacio (formerly Plaza Lawton), Manila, where they held a program while a local band joined to rally the crowd.
Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim joined the protest rally briefly. Also in attendance were former United Opposition spokesman Adel Tamano and constitutionalist Harry Roque.
Tamano, who is head of the PLM, said that the students came to the rally of their own accord and not from any pressure to join. - GMANews.TV
