EDSA III conveners now support GMA

Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri, along with some supporters of ousted President Joseph Estrada who laid siege to Malacañang on May 1, 2001 or the so-called EDSA III, are now backing President Arroyo.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Echiverri, who supported Fernando Poe Jr. in the 2004 presidential race, said he would work hand-in-hand with Mrs. Arroyo under "critical collaboration" and called for sobriety from the opposition ranks.

"We have set aside our political differences in order to help our nation and our people," Echiverri told a press conference in a restaurant in Ermita, Manila. "We have joined hands in the fight for poverty alleviation, anti-corruption, economic development and good governance."

During the same press conference, Arnold Obina, People’s Movement Against Poverty (PMAP) chairman, called on other opposition figures to close ranks and support the programs of Mrs. Arroyo.

"We will just call on her to give more importance to her pro-poor programs," he said.

Opposition leaders and conveners of the so-called EDSA III yesterday formed the People’s Action and Response Against Corruption (PAR-AC) as a "third force" that favors peaceful negotiation, dialogue and conciliation.

Echiverri read to reporters a "unity statement" saying that "leaders from different political blocks, groups and alliances have come to an understanding and realization that, in this time of grave crisis, to plunge (the) country into further chaos shall bear us nothing but entropy and shall not bear positive results."

Melvin Mitra, PAR-AC spokesman, said they might not take part in street demonstrations tomorrow, Labor Day, so as "not to add to the chaos on the streets."

However, Obina said PMAP members will still hold rallies tomorrow. They stopped short, though, of asking Mrs. Arroyo to resign as opposition groups have demanded.

PMAP is mostly comprised of Estrada supporters who led the bloody Malacañang siege on May 1, 2001, in which four people were killed and hundreds were wounded by combat troops guarding the Palace.

At that time, thousands of urban slum dwellers supporting Estrada marched through the streets and tried to storm the gates of the Presidential Palace.

Bishop Ephraim Perez, one of the EDSA III lead conveners, is now calling on the opposition to stop their attacks on the government and focus to uplifting the plight of the poor.

Other associations comprising PAR-AC are the National Commercial and Residential Tenants Association, Peace4Dev, Medical Directorial Staff Association, Jewelers Association, transport group PCDO- ACTO, Aksyon Demokratiko, Alliance for Democratic Initiatives, Consumer Welfare Association, Alyansa ng Kabataan sa Komunidad, and Masang Pilipino Foundation.

‘Third Force’ On The Go

Meanwhile, the Manggagawa at Mamamayan para sa Mayo Uno (Mamuno) — a "third force" that favors peaceful negotiations and conciliation with the government — will mobilize 50,000 people for a rally at Chino Roces (formerly Mendiola) Bridge, across from Malacañang tomorrow.

"While the other groups, notably militant labor and the opposition-supported organizations, are calling for the ouster of the Arroyo government, we shall be vigorously pursuing peaceful and conciliatory dialogue towards attaining the demands of labor and other sectors of our society," said Fred Pullarca, Mamuno spokesman.

"We should give our democratic institutions a chance and our country a respite from divisiveness and chaos," he added.

Among the demands of Mamuno for Labor Day are low cost housing for workers, establishment of a workers’ hospital, alternative livelihood to be financed by the Presidential Social Fund, eradication of smuggling, and implementation of programs such as provision of cheap food, medicine and transportation for workers.

In a related development, hundreds of anti-riot police will be deployed at key government offices in Metro Manila starting today to monitor illegal assemblies or unruly crowds gathering ahead of Labor Day tomorrow.

Metro Manila police commander Deputy Director General Avelino Razon Jr. said yesterday police would be on full alert nationwide to preempt possible violence and plots to undermine the government during anti-Arroyo street protests.

"We have not monitored any destabilization threat," he said. "These are just political rumors. Traditionally, we expect big crowds during Labor Day rallies and our main job is to maintain order."

Razon said labor leaders have assured police officials that no untoward incident would mar the celebration of Labor Day, particularly in Metro Manila.

"We enjoin labor leaders to coordinate with out police officers on the field so we can assist them in directing traffic or in conducting other measures that would help keep everyone safe," he said.

"As always, your policemen will be on the streets to keep peace and order. Rest assured that we will adhere to the highest standards of professionalism and respect individual rights, including the rights of the silent majority as well as the interest of the state."

Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes met yesterday with Philippine National Police chief Director General Arturo Lomibao to assess the preparations for today’s Labor Day rallies.

Reyes said they have asked rally organizers to police their ranks.

"We respect their rights to peacefully assemble, but they must assure that it would be within the bounds of the law," Reyes said.

On the other hand, Chief Superintendent Ismael Rafanan,

Philippine National Police intelligence chief, said tomorrow’s Labor Day celebration would be peaceful and orderly.

"Yung mga destabilization plot na yan ay paugong lang ng ibang grupo," he said. "Wala naming mitsa para magsimula ng

destabilization (Those destabilization plots are just being floated by some groups. There is nothing to fuel a destabilization)."

PNP chief Director General Arturo Lomibao said more than 16,000 uniformed policemen would be deployed at flashpoints in Metro Manila – Monumento in Caloocan City, Ayala Avenue in Makati City and the EDSA Shrine in Mandaluyong.

Police have been placed on red alert following coup threats from Estrada and Poe supporters timed for tomorrow’s Labor Day celebration, he added.

Lomibao said the reactivated Task Force Metro Manila Shield would implement security measures in close coordination with the National Capital Region Command

"The task force would basically monitor and contain illegal assemblies, unruly mass actions and other forms of civil disturbance during the holiday," he said.

"This has yet to be verified. We are dissuading groups from pursuing destabilization plots. We know what happened on May 1, 2001 and this does not do justice to our economy." — With reports from Non Alquitran, Cecille Suerte Felipe, AFP