Militants hail SC decision branding CPR as illegal

Militant groups welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court declaring President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's "calibrated preemptive response" as unconstitutional.

This developed as members of Bayan, Alyansang Makabayan, Alyansa sa Mamumuo sa Sugbo-Kilusang Mayo Uno, Alliance of Progressive Labor and their allied organizations will participate in protest actions on May 1 in observance of the National Labor Day.

Jaime Paglinawan, provincial chairman of Bayan, said his group and its allied organizations are happy with the decision of the high tribunal because it confirmed their belief that the CPR and the Executive Order 464 are unconstitutional.

"Since the beginning we asserted that these policies of Arroyo government are questionable and unconstitutional, which are drafted by highly questionable Arroyo administration," he said.

According to him, the country's 1987 Constitution guarantees a freedom of speech and assembly that everybody should respect.

"She (Arroyo) is an illegitimate president and her government itself is under question. She is afraid that people, through protest rallies, would force her to resign from power," he added.

In commemoration with the 110th year of the Labor Day in the country on Monday, Paglinawan said that they expect more people, especially the workers, to join their street protests.

"The people should not be afraid to join protests. We should strengthen our calls and protests to let the government feel what the people want," Paglinawan said.

Among their main demands are to call for Arroyo's ouster, passage of the P125 across-the-board legislated wage increase, scrapping of proposal to change the country's Charter, and abolition of anti-terrorism bill.

Paglinawan said that since the Supreme Court has already declared CPR as unconstitutional, those who imposed it, including the police and Arroyo herself, should face penalty for arresting, hurting and violating the rights of those who joined the protests.

For his part, Nicasio Igot, spokesman of AMA-Sugbo-KMU, said that even the country's Labor Code guarantees the rights of workers to hold strike and peaceful assembly.

"We appeal to the workers and independent unions to join our rallies to push for P125 across-the-board legislated wage increase," he added.

Joshua Mata, national secretary general of APL, also said that they welcomed the High Court's ruling and with or without it, they would go on with their protest actions on Monday.

He said that they are not afraid even if Arroyo would declare a "state of national emergency" like what she did during the EDSA Revolution anniversary celebration last February.

"Even if she (Arroyo) declares a state of national emergency, the workers would not be intimidated. It is the government that should be intimidated (by) thousands of workers (who) would join together to demand for proper wages, jobs, food, housing and respect for their rights," Mata said.

Meanwhile, Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau chief Paul Labra yesterday said that the city police would implement maximum tolerance on protesters.

He said that May 1 is only one of the holidays that they would always brace for through coming up with security plans.

Police are keeping tight watch on Plaza Indepencia, Malacanang sa Sugbu, Fuente Osmeña Rotunda and Colon Street which are the converging zones for protesters in the city.

However, Labra said that the scenario in Cebu is more tolerable than the one in Manila because protesters here are not as violent as those in the capital.

He added that the city traffic group and the Cebu City Traffic Management also have their own preparations for the Labor Day observance as they are preparing for a diversionary route should problem occur during protests, adding that they are presently on a heightened alert for Monday's activities.

With the Supreme Court order for local government units to designate areas where demonstrations could be held without permits, Mayor Tomas Osmeña said that Plaza Independencia could be the city's "freedom park."

Osmeña, however, said that he is taking a risk for letting protestors hold rallies anywhere without permits as long as they do not cause public disturbance.

"I'm here to defend public interest."

The mayor described his policy as "tempered with mercy," saying that it is the exact opposite of CPR. - Wenna A. Berondo, Flor Z. Perolina and Noreen B. Napoles