Bishops support GMA’s ‘calibrated response’ to rallies

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is supporting President Arroyo in ordering a "preemptive calibrated response" to wildcat street protests.

While the Catholic Church remains supportive of the right to peaceful assembly, CBCP president Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla said constitutional rights also have corresponding limitations.

The CBCP echoed Mrs. Arroyo’s argument that national interest and public order justified the implementation of the new policy, which amends the government’s stance of maximum tolerance.

"Our stand is the same as before: people have the right to assemble and express dissent peacefully and within the bounds of law. But this right is not absolute and is limited by the rights of others," Capalla said.

He said the mass protest actions initiated by the opposition and militant groups demanding Mrs. Arroyo’s resignation have caused the disruption of business and classes in the country’s premier financial district in Makati City.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, a prominent figure in the united opposition, has been leading the protest rallies against the President in Makati since July.

Capalla said police are justified in dispersing unauthorized rallies and other street protest actions held without permission from local government authorities.

The President has ordered the Philippine National Police to strictly implement the "no permit, no rally" policy and exercise preemptive response against mass protest actions without permits from local authorities.

Mrs. Arroyo pointed out foreign investors have expressed fears on bringing in capital to the country because of the rallies, which have drawn a picture of socio-political instability in the nation.

Malacañang officials have cited "credible plans" by the opposition and militant groups to incite people to "inflame the political situation" and sow unrest.

The PNP was ordered to implement the new policy in lieu of exercising the usual "maximum tolerance" against street protests.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR), however, said the Philippine National Police (PNP) must define its "maximum tolerance" policy before implementing a new one with greater scope.

CHR Commissioner Dominador Calamba II pointed out that the Constitution guarantees the right of every individual to join peaceful assemblies.

Calamba warned the police should justify the implementation of the new policy which could be seen as a curtailment of civil rights.

"Those in the government should not violate the rights of individuals to peaceably assemble," the CHR said in a statement.

The CHR also called on the protesters to lodge their complaint before the commission against any police officer who might have "overstepped (his) authority" in implementing the new policy.

"We are also willing to send investigators to the areas where these rallies are being held to monitor the activities and report any human rights violations for the appropriate action of the Commission," Calamba said.

On the other hand, National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Vidal Querol said they are ready to answer any charges arising from the implementation of the new policy.

"We will use the law in defending the policy of rule of calibrated preemptive response, which is the same with no permit no rally policy," Querol said.

The CBCP earlier took a "hands-off" stand on the issue of wildcat street protests staged by the opposition and militant groups, but at the same time advised the public against joining mass actions which have been sustained by the recent dismissal of impeachment complaints against the President in Congress.

Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, who headed the CBCP during the 1986 People Power revolution that toppled the Marcos dictatorship, now believes that mass actions in history have proven futile in bringing about lasting change to the country.

Vidal shares this view with Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, another former CBCP president, who affirmed the popular belief that the people are already tired of going to the streets since this option "seems to be mere political and even ideological ploy."

"People are indifferent to calls of the opposition to go out into the streets. This could mean that they might not totally believe in the so-called truth being presented by the opposition," Quevedo said in a separate statement.

Quevedo said the CBCP "would rather urge legal and constitutional luminaries to come together and reflect on possible but creative ways by which the truth could be pursued in accordance with the rule of law and the Constitution."

The opposition and militant groups have been trying to muster numbers in their attempt to trigger another popular revolt to oust a sitting president.

The two EDSA popular revolts had been successful in ousting former strongman Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 and Joseph Estrada in 2001 with the support from the Church and the military.

The CBCP had taken its hands off the issue in the bid to oust Mrs. Arroyo from office. The military likewise declared they will not dip their hands in political issues, apparently learning from the bitter lessons from the past two popular revolts. -With Mike Frialde, Cecille Suerte Felipe