BY GERARD NAVAL
ABOUT 3,000 members of farmer and militant
groups yesterday staged a rally commemorating the anniversary of
the "Mendiola massacre" but failed to reach the Don Chino Roces
(formerly Mendiola) bridge, now a "no-rally zone" where 13
peasants were killed 21 years ago.
The protesters dispersed peacefully at around
5 p.m. after holding a program at the foot of the bridge where
they lighted candles for the slain peasants.
There was no major untoward incident, except
for the arrest of a member of the Commission on Human Rights who
was carrying a gun, and a man the protesters caught talking
video footage of the rally. The two were turned over to the
police.
The protesters walked from the Department of
Agrarian Reform office at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon
City through Quezon avenue, Mabuhay Rotunda and España avenue
until they reached Claro M. Recto avenue in Manila, causing
heavy traffic disruption.
The farmers were joined by militants
belonging to Gabriela, AnakPawis, the Confederation for Unity,
Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage)
and the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide
(Piston).
The CHR said the man carrying a gun is one of
its investigators.
But CHR chief Purificacion Quisumbing said
they did not authorize Ologronio "Jun" Nalangan to carry a gun.
"He did it contrary in his mission order and
contrary to the basic rules of the Commission," she said.
"He has violated the law and he has violated
the Commission rules and he will be dealt with accordingly," she
added.
Director Geary Barias, Metro Manila police
chief, said the rally was generally peaceful. He said the
presence of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim helped a lot in maintaining
peace and order at the rally site.
"Sa simula pa lang kasi ay nandoon na si
Mayor Lim at pinaki-usapan sila na maging peaceful lang ang
rally," Barias said.
He said the rallyists entered into a
gentleman’s agreement with Lim that they disperse before 5 p.m.
He said that among the personalities present
were Reps. Satur Ocampo, Liza Maza, and Teddy Casiño.
He said 1,500 policemen secured the area. The
original plan was to dispatch deploy 3,000 policemen.
Barias said plans of some forces to disrupt
the rally did not materialize.
"Nakita siguro nila na hindi uubra ang
destabilization because of the preparations namin. It deterred
whatever plans they may have," Barias said.
He said rally organizers also policed their
ranks, preventing infiltrators.
Barias said he and 16 other policemen
positioned on Recto avenue carried placards denouncing violence.
"For the first time we also joined the rally
but this is to show that we are peace-loving citizens and that
we adhere to the rule of law," he said.
Some placards said "Kapulisan ay kaagapay sa
kaayusan at katahimikan ng bansa," "Wasto at maayos na pag-iisip,
dulot ay tunay na katahimikan ng paligid," "Kapayapan, hindi
karahasan ang susi sa pagkakisa at kaularan ng bayan" and "Ang
pulis ay kaibigan at kapatid ninyo, pareho natin iwasan ang gulo."
PNP chief Avelino Razon Jr. belied
allegations of "overkill" with the planned deployment of at
least 3,000 police. He said they were simply "preparing for the
worst, but hoping for the best."
The Cabinet met Monday with representatives
of the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines who called
the attention of the government on the plight of the poor
including the farmers.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the
bishops came form Northern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
"They are talking about the need to look into
the poverty situation of our people, the needs for greater food
productivity so that we’ll have more food for our poor and also
the need for faster action on cases pertaining to agrarian
reform…Ang mga obispo, siyempre sila ang nilalapitan ng mga
grupo ng mga farmers," he said.
Cabinet secretary Ricardo Saludo said the meeting was part of
the regular consultations between government and Church leaders.
– With Raymond Africa, Job Realubit, and Jocelyn
Montemayor
