Nationwide full alert for expected weekend march

Retired Defense Chief Fortunato Abat not only demanded that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo step down from office but gave her until June 25 to do so. We assume that it is in reaction to this that the Philippine National Police has placed all its forces nationwide to be on full alert this weekend for possible massive anti-government demonstrations.

We hope that if there are rallies, they will be peaceful. This means that first and foremost, the rallyists would get permits to demonstrate. Second, that the police would exercise maximum tolerance. We hate seeing shielded policemen pushing or being pushed back by rallyists and worse, seeing rallyists throwing stones. We appeal to the demonstrators to police their ranks. The biggest danger that we see is that some terrorists may infiltrate the rallies and cause a confrontation between the demonstrators and the police.

There is a second aspect. Sometimes the rallyists really take over the streets, meaning that motorists are deprived of the use of roads and pedestrians of the use of the streets. This is counterproductive for the rallyists. The purpose of any rally is not only to get the government to cede to their demands, but more important to get the people’s sympathy and support behind their cause. The positive thing about a rally is that it is an attempt to be able to air the rallyists’ grievances peacefully and get public support for their cause. Sometimes demonstrators unnecessarily antagonize not only the police, but the people themselves.

Another thing that may determine the success or failure of the coming weekend rally is the weather. Whether we like it or not, it is now the rainy season and no one can control the weather. But we are sure the rallyists are well aware of this.

According to advance reports, the rally will emphasize two controversies — the jueteng situation and the tape on alleged conversation between President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and former election commissioner Virgilio Garcillano. We don’t see how these two matters can be settled by street demonstrations. The way we see it, the answer to the two problems is to file cases in court. It is always dangerous, if not fatal, to let any group of people take the law into their own hands. Relatives of the President were said to have been the recipient of jueteng payoffs. In fact, the current joke going around is that there are three reptiles in Malacañang – anakconda, bayawak and asawa. But all that is hearsay. There must be evidence that will stand up in court. Otherwise, it is libelous even to make such accusations.