Tourism undersecretary to militant groups: No rally on ASEAN Summit

Tourism Undersecretary for Visayas and Mindanao Phineas Alburo yesterday urged militant groups to forgo initiating protest rallies during the ASEAN summit on December this year.

Alburo, one of the speakers in the launching of the Tourism Congress here, said protest rallies could gave negative implications to Heads of State attending the summit.

"The Cebuanos should support the hosting of the ASEAN Summit because this could create more investors, more jobs and more tourists will come," Alburo said.

The Alburo suggestion came amid reports that Arman Perez, of Bayan Muna-Cebu, earlier said his groups are now preparing for the holding of protest rallies in time of the arrival of the summit delegates sometime in the latter part of November.

These protest actions would, as expected, anchor against President Gloria Arroyo.

Alburo however said that should the militant groups insist on pursuing their protests, the government would respect such decision.

"Atong respectahan kun modayon gyud sila pero ato hangyo lang kun mahimo dili lang unta kay dili lang ni sa mga Goberno kun dili para nato natong tanan," Alburo said.

Meanwhile, Alburo downplayed an earlier statement of Mandaue City Mayor Teddy Ouano that he, along with the ASEAN Summit delegates, is one of the targets of terrorists. - Ramil V. Ayuman