Pro-Erap forces to retrace‘EDSA 3’

Supporters of ousted President Joseph Estrada will re-enact their historic march from Club Filipino to Chino Roces Bridge across Malacañang today to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the bloody May Day riots in 2001 that is now known as "EDSA 3."

The pro-Estrada groups held a press conference yesterday morning proclaiming the slogan "Isulong ang Diwa ng EDSA 3, Mabuhay ang Mahihirap" on their white T-shirts, as Estrada partisans repeatedly shouted "EDSA 3 Walang Kaparis" and "Remember EDSA 3 People Power Will Not Rest."

Ver Eustaquio, Union of the Masses for Democracy and Justice (UMDJ) national chairman, said they will retrace the routes that they took in the early morning of May 1, 2001 when thousands of Estrada supporters laid siege to Malacañang and called for President Arroyo’s ouster.

Only three months into Mrs. Arroyo’s term, an angry mob attempted to break through police security at Chino Roces Bridge and held at bay police guarding Malacañang.

In a bloody confrontation with combat troops sent to drive them away, several Estrada supporters were killed and property destroyed, with a media van burned.

At 4 a.m. today, Estrada supporters will gather at Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan, then proceed to the EDSA Shrine in Ortigas, Aurora Boulevard, Sta. Mesa and finally to Mendiola.

They intend to remember the "heroism" of their comrades in arms who fought against the administration.

"By media’s accounts, they said there were only 17 people who were killed, but we believe that there were more than 100, a majority of whom were never given due recognition," Eustaquio said.

"May 1 should not only be remembered as Labor Day, but it should also be remembered as the day of the masses," he said.

At around 11 a.m. yesterday, about 10 Estrada supporters placed a wreath at the monument of Don Joaquin "Chino" Roces at the bridge bearing his name.

The sash of the wreath read: "Alay sa mga pinarangalang bayani ng EDSA 3 mula kay Pangulong Joseph Estrada."

Apart from the re-enactment, at 2 p.m. today, Estrada supporters will march to Plaza Salamanca at T. M. Kalaw street and Taft Avenue in Manila, and two hours after they will join labor groups at Liwasang Bonifacio, also in Manila, to celebrate Labor Day.

Linggoy Alcuaz, FPJ Volunteers Brigade secretary general, said that they acquired the necessary permits to secure their route.

"We have permits, two kinds – the granted and deemed granted," he said.

Alcuaz said Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. allowed them to assemble and march from the People Power Monument to EDSA Shrine, and that they were also given clearance to assemble at Welcome Rotunda.

The municipal government of San Juan also approved their request to pass by Annapolis Street and Ortigas Avenue, he added.

Alcuaz said the city government of Manila said they could hold a rally at Plaza Salamanca from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and at Liwasang Bonifacio from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. today.

However, the permits are "deemed granted" after Manila Mayor Lito Atienza failed to act on their letter within two working days, as prescribed by Batas Pambansa 880, the Public Assembly Act, he added.

Alcuaz warned police they if they violate the rights of the rallyists to peaceably demonstrate, they would be violating the law and might be penalized with six months to six years of imprisonment.

Last April 7, they asked Atienza for a rally permit from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the areas of Freedom Park, JP Laurel Street; Chino Roces Bridge up to the corner of Ayala, Legarda and Claro M. Recto streets, he added.

Alcuaz said they informed Atienza that they would bring a portable and fixed mobile sound systems, with the number of participants numbering about 5,000, he added.

Alcuaz said he also tried to arrange a meeting with Atienza, but the mayor allegedly refused to meet with him.

However, Atienza said while he approved almost all the requests to hold May 1 rallies in open areas that have been declared freedom parks, he strictly gave no permit for demonstrators to go to Mendiola.

Manila already has six freedom parks: Liwasang Bonifacio, Plaza Miranda, Plaza Dilao, Bonifacio Shrine, Plaza Moriones and Plaza Salamanca, he added.

Alcuaz also met with Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong, Manila police director, and presented to him the rally permits, but he said the police official only "smiled, smiled and smiled."

However, after their meeting, Bulaong said that they would abide by BP 880, but as far as he knows, no rally permit was issued for Chino Roces Bridge. — Evelyn Macairan, Mike Frialde