MANILA/ZAMBOANGA CITY, 22 September 2005 — Malacañang Palace yesterday warned that security forces will no longer tolerate “unlawful” street protests as opposition forces renewed calls for mass demonstrations to force President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo out of office.
As they gathered in the financial district of Makati in Manila to remember the Philippines' "darkest days" when the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos placed the country under martial rule 33 years ago, some 4,000 activists said Arroyo's continued stay in office is no longer acceptable.
“Gloria must go,” the protesters including opposition leaders, leftist activists, students and members of church-based groups chanted.
In the southern city of Zamboanga, victims of martial law also took to the streets to commemorate the infamous regime.
“Never again will this happen to us. We will not allow it. We will defend our freedom,” a 56-year old Jose Guttierez, a former human rights activist, told Arab News.
Although the crowds paled in comparison to the 40,000 who marched in July as Arroyo faced the worst crisis of her presidency over allegations of election cheating and corruption, yesterday's protesters said they were still regrouping.
Arroyo's allies in Congress quashed an impeachment complaint against her this month, putting her foes in disarray.
“We are aware that we have to work harder in order to oust Mrs. Arroyo,” said Renato Reyes, a protest leader. “This is not going to be a picnic and we are prepared for the worst and we are prepared for a long drawn fight.”
Reyes said it also took time for Filipinos to get their act together and oust Marcos in what has become known as the “people power revolution” of 1986, in which millions of demonstrators thronged the capital’s streets in support of a rebellion by a small number of soldiers.
He said it also took months for protesters to chase out Joseph Estrada as president in January 2001.
Eduardo Ermita, Arroyo’s executive secretary and a retired general, said intelligence reports showed the protests were expected to grow and continue until December to try to destabilize the government and force Arroyo to quit.
“We have information that this will continue with the end view of trying to weaken the presidency and for the purpose of forcing her to step down,” he told a weekly media briefing at the presidential palace.
Ermita said security forces had been ordered to strictly enforce a “no permit, no rally” policy and disperse any groups that gathered in public areas to try to agitate street violence. “Unlawful mass actions will be dispersed,” he said.
About 2,000 anti-riot police were deployed around Manila on Tuesday ahead of the latest protest. About 200 soldiers were on standby to reinforce the police as a column of armored vehicles took up positions inside the grounds of the presidential palace.
Ermita’s “no permit, no rally” policy was criticized by human rights advocates as “de facto” martial rule. Some analysts say Arroyo’s government routinely amplifies security threats to curry public support and pre-empt the plans of her opponents.
