Police raise SARS alert at Clark rally

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — Will the planned massive Labor Day rally tomorrow at the main gate of the Clark special economic zone (CSEZ), where the Philippine-US Balikatan military exercise is ongoing, fizzle out due to the SARS scare?

This question arose as Chief Superintendent Vidal Queros, newly installed Central Luzon police director, cited reports that some labor leaders from SARS-affected countries might attend the rally.

"If it turns out to be a big crowd, they would be squeezing against each other and literally spitting on each other’s faces," said Querol, who assumed the post only last Monday, replacing Chief Superintendent Oscar Calderon.

Frank Mangulabnan, chairman of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), one of the organizers of the Labor Day rally, merely laughed off Querol’s warning about the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

He said they expect a huge crowd for the Labor Day rally. The participants would converge at Clark’s main gate from two assembly points — Dau Plaza in Mabalacat town and Marisol Subdivision in Angeles City.

"I don’t expect any problem with the police in Mabalacat and Angeles anyway. We never had any troubles with them during past rallies at Clark," Mangulabnan said.

Querol has instructed his field commanders to brief their men on how to avoid SARS.

"Police work is one of the most vulnerable to exposure to ailments since policemen have to be present in any place and under any circumstances in the performance of their duties," he said.

"Surgical masks would be made available to them for use when needed," he added. — Ding Cervantes