Estrada loyalists chase students with clubs

Pro-Estrada rallyists are getting paranoid.

A number of San Sebastian College students, on their way to school to attend an early morning academic exercise, were almost beaten up by pro-Estrada rallyists yesterday in Mendiola on suspicion of being "infiltrators."

Police said some 16 male students were chased with clubs by members of the pro-Estrada group belonging to People’s Movement Against Poverty (PMAP) after the students cut through the phalanx of rallyists keeping vigil at the foot of the Chino Roces Bridge in Mendiola past, 6 a.m.

"The pro-Estrada group suspected the students of being anti-Erap protesters infiltrating their ranks," one of the policemen assigned to guard the approach to Malacañang told The STAR.

However, cooler heads among the rallyists and the police were able to pacify the irate mob and prevent injury to the students.

The students claimed they were on their way to school for an early morning exercises which are part of their curriculum.

Pro-Estrada demonstrators, however, claimed that most of San Sebastian College (SSC) students were against them. They cited an incident Wednesday morning when an unidentified SSC student threw a stone at them.

SSC is just one of several universities situated across the Chino Roces Bridge. No school official, however, has announced measures to prevent their students from getting hurt while passing the ranks of the rallyists.

Also yesterday, several pro-Estrada rallyists heckled several media men and drove them away, alleging that they were not given proper treatment by the media.

The group alleged that media tend to picture them as "paid" and "bused in" protesters with no clear agenda.

"The media tend to picture us as a laughable bunch of rallyists. They don’t even talk to our spokespersons," the group lamented.

The pro-Estrada rallyists, however, showed that they are disciplined and responsible people by sweeping and collecting their overnight trash yesterday.

They also vowed to continue guarding the approach to Malacañang against anti-Estrada forces. They claimed the Mendiola ground is for the poor people who believe in the President, while the EDSA Shrine is the refuge of the rich and the elitists.

"We will not leave this place and protect the President (Estrada) with our lives," the rallyists chorused.

Meanwhile, the police arrested yesterday three young men and a 17-year-old boy for allegedly hurling an explosive device at a taxi and injuring its driver the other night in Caloocan City.

Charges of frustrated murder were filed against Allan Hilario, 22; Benjamin Palomo, 20; Homer Castro, 21; and Michael Ramos, 17; all residents of 10th Avenue, Caloocan.

Victim Marcelo de Leon, 45, of 28-E De Onon Street, Marulas, Valenzuela City, suffered minor cuts and bruises in the body and was taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

Reports showed that the incident occurred at about 11:30 p.m. along Peralta Street in 10th Avenue, while the victim was driving his vehicle near a dimly lit portion of the area.

Without warning, Hilario and Palomo appeared out of nowhere and blocked the taxi’s path. They then threw a pillbox bomb at the vehicle, destroying its top and back portions. Castro and Ramos served as lookouts.

The suspects immediately fled the scene, but De Leon, despite being wounded, sought help from barangay officials that led to suspects’ arrest. The victim was later taken to the hospital where he was released the same day. – Matthew Estabillo