Pocket rallies test police tolerance

As a prelude to a major rally on Labor Day, various militant groups staged pocket street protests in various areas in Manila yesterday in an apparent effort to test the police tolerance following the Supreme Court’s ruling on the unconstitutionality of the government’s calibrated preemptive response (CPR) on rallies.

More than a hundred members of the Alliance of Progressive Labor, led by Daniel Parocha, stood defiant against the police when they tried to march toward Chino Roces (formerly Mendiola) bridge.

At the corner of Recto Avenue and Nicanor Reyes street, anti-riot policemen stopped the rallyists, who were carrying streamers that read "Sipain si Gloria (Kick Gloria Out)" and "Cha-cha Alisin (Remove Cha-cha)."

When rallyists failed to present a permit, they were pushed back by police up to España. The rallyists later voluntarily dispersed after claiming victory over the junking of CPR.

At Welcome Rotunda at the boundary of Quezon City and Manila, some 40 members of Akbayan, led by party-list Rep. Riza Hontiveros, demanded justice for the victims of CPR. The rallyists took turns in denouncing the Arroyo administration, as joint contingents of Quezon City and Manila policemen watched at the sidelines.

The rallyists also peacefully dispersed voluntarily after a 45-minute program.

In Ermita, 10 members of the League of Filipino Students (LFS), led by Venzon Orosa, staged a rally in front of the Department of Justice building along Padre Faura street.

The students called for the junking of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and justice for a woman allegedly raped by US servicemen in Olongapo. The rallyists dispersed after an hour.

Rally leaders said yesterday’s mass action was just a sample of what authorities should expect on Labor Day, when an estimated 50,000 members of labor and cause-oriented groups will take to the streets.

Meanwhile, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) announced that random searches would be made on backpacks amid reports that protesters would be carrying Molotov bombs, pillboxes and rocks to "battle" anti-riot policemen out to disperse Labor Day rallies on Monday.

Intelligence reports reaching the NCRPO showed that the rallyists, especially those from the reaffirmist faction of the communist movement, are out to create trouble on May 1.

"We received reports that they (rallyists) are preparing for a showdown with our anti-riot policemen. They will be armed with Molotov bombs, pillboxes and rocks which they would carry on their backpacks," said Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas Jr., NCRPO intelligence chief.

Rojas emphasized that another 5,000 policemen will be on a standby status and be made available for deployment in certain areas once the need arises.

The NCRPO would exercise maximum tolerance in dealing with the rallyists on Monday. But Rojas stressed that the rally leaders must secure rally permits from local government officials.

The NCRPO intelligence chief said the rallyists would be allowed to air their grievances against the Arroyo government in freedom parks like Plaza Miranda and Liwasang Bonifacion in Manila. – With Non Alquitran