Cops secure Mendiola, Palace ahead of march vs massacre
11/30/2009 | 08:00 AM
Police in Manila secured Mendiola Bridge and Malacañang early Monday in time for a protest march by journalist and militant groups in protest of last week’s massacre in Maguindanao province.
According to a report by dzBB's Carlo Mateo, the Manila Police District also started monitoring areas where the participants in the rally are to assemble before marching to Mendiola.
MPD personnel have orders to make sure the rally does not become violent.
Journalist and militant groups were to march to Mendiola Bridge near Malacañang on Monday to call for an end to a culture of impunity, which is being highlighted by the Nov. 23 massacre that killed at least 57 people.
Participants were expected to wear black or sport black ribbons and armbands at the march.
The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said the “March Against Impunity! March for Justice!" will be the start of a series of protests “until the killings stop."
“We have to hold this government accountable for the climate of impunity and the systemic denial of justice for hundreds of victims of extrajudicial killings since 2001. No doubt, the failure of government to curb these abuses and bring the perpetrators to justice has emboldened killers all over the country," Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said.
According to him, the massacre is not just an issue of killing journalists, or of election violence, but a human rights issue that everyone should feel strongly about.
Among the groups that are joining the march rally are the National Union of Peoples Lawyers (NUPL), the National Press Club (NPC), the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), Karapatan, Gabriela, Solidarity Philippines, Bayan, Gabriela, Pagbabago and the College Editors Guild of the Philippines.
Participants will assemble at the University of Sto. Tomas at 9 a.m. and will start their march at around 10 a.m.
A tableau of the 57 murdered women, journalists and lawyers will be staged when the protesters reach the Mendiola Bridge, Bayan said.
On the other hand, Bayan warned President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo against filing her candidacy for Pampanga congresswoman, saying this will only fuel more outrage against her administration.
“That would be grossly insensitive, seeking to prolong her stay in power, just one week after the massacre in Maguindanao. She appears to be more concerned in seeking office and gaining immunity rather than addressing the problem of impunity," Reyes said. - LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV
According to a report by dzBB's Carlo Mateo, the Manila Police District also started monitoring areas where the participants in the rally are to assemble before marching to Mendiola.
MPD personnel have orders to make sure the rally does not become violent.
Journalist and militant groups were to march to Mendiola Bridge near Malacañang on Monday to call for an end to a culture of impunity, which is being highlighted by the Nov. 23 massacre that killed at least 57 people.
Participants were expected to wear black or sport black ribbons and armbands at the march.
The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said the “March Against Impunity! March for Justice!" will be the start of a series of protests “until the killings stop."
“We have to hold this government accountable for the climate of impunity and the systemic denial of justice for hundreds of victims of extrajudicial killings since 2001. No doubt, the failure of government to curb these abuses and bring the perpetrators to justice has emboldened killers all over the country," Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said.
According to him, the massacre is not just an issue of killing journalists, or of election violence, but a human rights issue that everyone should feel strongly about.
Among the groups that are joining the march rally are the National Union of Peoples Lawyers (NUPL), the National Press Club (NPC), the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), Karapatan, Gabriela, Solidarity Philippines, Bayan, Gabriela, Pagbabago and the College Editors Guild of the Philippines.
Participants will assemble at the University of Sto. Tomas at 9 a.m. and will start their march at around 10 a.m.
A tableau of the 57 murdered women, journalists and lawyers will be staged when the protesters reach the Mendiola Bridge, Bayan said.
On the other hand, Bayan warned President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo against filing her candidacy for Pampanga congresswoman, saying this will only fuel more outrage against her administration.
“That would be grossly insensitive, seeking to prolong her stay in power, just one week after the massacre in Maguindanao. She appears to be more concerned in seeking office and gaining immunity rather than addressing the problem of impunity," Reyes said. - LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV
