Arroyo cabalens also hold rallies for truth today

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The “people power” tempest of the times seems to be catching tempo in the Kapampangan temper amid the controversy triggered by the NBN-ZTE exposes.

“Cabalens” of President Arroyo belonging to the militant Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD) announced yesterday they are set to hold at 11 a.m. today a “protest-march” in front of the Macapagal ancestral house in Lubao, birthplace of her father, former president Diosdado Macapagal.

The ancestral house is actually a nipa house which was rehabilitated to serve as landmark to the former president’s exact birthplace.

In the past, Kapampangans were known to have stood by their fellow Kapampangan President Arroyo, a registered voter in Lubao. Local government leaders and their constituents had held rallies here in support of the President during past attempts to oust her through impeachment proceedings.

“The KPD in Central Luzon will also be joining an ecumenical prayer to be held by the Kapampangan Coalition Inc. (KCI) in San Fernando, Pampanga in the afternoon,” the KPD said in a statement.

The group said that the protest-rally will be themed: “Katiwalian sa pamahalaan, tigilan (Stop corruption in government)”.  It also said that a simultaneous protest-rally will be held at the Ulo ng Apo center in Olongapo City where a noise barrage has also been slated at 5 p.m.

A group of KDP militants, however, will proceed to Manila to join the inter-faith rally slated in Makati City today.

Another group called “Kapampangan Marangal (Kapampangan with dignity)” also announced yesterday it will hold a protest rally seeking truth in the NBN-ZTE scandal.

Earlier, Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo, spokesperson of the Pampanga Mayors’ League, said that moves against the President are limited only to Metro Manila, and that 90 percent of provincial folk continue to support her.