CHR-7 exec: Summit security, beautification 'overacting'

Overacting resulting in human rights violations, was how a top official of the Commission on Human Rights-Central Visayas described the security preparations and the beautification of the ceremonial route for the 12th Asean Summit this December.

Lawyer Alejandro Alonzo said the deployment of military and police personnel for security has been blown out of proportion, describing it as "overacting."

He also assailed the beautification of the ceremonial route, or roads leading to the summit venue, of displacing several families when their houses were demolished, for being deemed eyesores to visiting heads of state, without any relocation site.

At least 10 families whose houses in Lapu-Lapu City were demolished allegedly without giving a relocation site in return have been documented, Alonzo said.

Alonzo said the Housing and Urban Development Council had asked his office to monitor the case and look into possible violations committed by the particular local government.

The rights of the squatters whose houses were demolished due to the government's beautification program for the Asean Summit have been violated, he said, adding that the requirements of the law have not been complied with, especially on granting a relocation site.

Alonzo said that a relocation site should be readied for soon-to-be displaced families and that consultation should be done first with the residents of the area where the relocation site is located.

In the case of security preparations, Alonzo said he has attended international conferences before in Manila but there was never so much augmentation of military and police personnel.

Alonzo said the presence of the military and police personnel, in full battle-gear, have caused feelings of harassment to the people especially those he described as "no-read-no-write."

The government should not prevent people from holding rallies because their rights have been guaranteed by the Constitution, Alonzo said.

Alonzo admired Mayor Tomas Osmeña for announcing that he will allow rallies in Cebu City even without permit for as long as it is done orderly and peacefully.

Authorities should exercise their power within the bounds of the law, Alonzo said as he asked protesting militant groups to exercise sobriety also. - Fred P. Languido