Alarcio urges talks with militant groups

Due to a looming series of street protest in line with the new impeachment complaints filed against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, police regional office director Silverio Alarcio will ask police commanders to meet with militant leaders to discuss the rules on staging peaceful protests.

In an interview with the media during his visit to the three wounded policemen at a hospital yesterday, Alarcio said militant groups should respect other people who are using the streets in airing their gripes against the government.

Some motorists have complained about heavy traffic every time a rally is held along Osmeña Boulevard, Colon Street and M.J. Cuenco Avenue in front of the Malacañang sa Sugbu.

Alarcio wanted police commanders and militant leaders to draw out plans for peaceful rallies, saying that cause-oriented organizations should know that a police deployment in a rally area is not necessarily aimed at dispersing the protesters but to maintain order.

Alarcio, however, expressed support to Mayor Tomas Osmeña's policy of staging rallies even in the absence of permits but clarified that the activities must be done in orderly manner to avoid confrontation with police.

Earlier this year, Osmeña had announced that militant groups can stage rallies anytime at anyplace in the city as long as they do not destroy government properties and maintain order. - Edwin Ian Melecio