Rally vs. martial law staged at the Capitol

About a hundred members of Bayan Muna and its affiliate groups yesterday cried "Never again! Never again!" to martial law in a 30-minute protest in front of the Provincial Capitol.

The progressive groups began their protest rally, in line with the 34th anniversary of the declaration of martial law, at the Fuente-Osmeña Circle passing Osmeña Boulevard and ending up at the Capitol.

When asked what the protest was all about, Arman Perez of Bayan Muna replied, "Mora na man sad gud og nag-martial law dinhi sa ato". The observation referred to the all-out-war policy declared by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia against terrorists and insurgents.

Bayan Muna and its affiliate groups yesterday accused Gwen of being a "new breed of dictator along with President Arroyo."

"Saksi ang katawhan sa pag-abot sa bag-ong diktador ubos ni Gloria Arroyo ug gisuportahan pa gyud ni Gov. Garcia," Perez said.

But, rallyists failed to penetrate the Capitol after consultant Byron Garcia blocked the road with dump trucks and popped up the volume of the sound systems.

However, this didn't stop the rallyists from staging their protest. Led by Bayan Muna chairman Jaime Paglinawan, the protesters proceeded to lie down in the middle of the road in front of the Capitol.

The act irked public utility jeepney drivers who were heard complaining "samok-samok lang na sila" after the protest created a traffic jam along Osmeña Boulevard and Escario Street.

Allen Pilare, a CITOM traffic enforcer assigned at the vicinity of the Capitol, got disgusted at rallyists who did not heed to his request never to stay on the middle of the road. He said that the traffic jam stretched from Capitol to the Fuente Rotunda area for about 30 minutes. - Ramil V. Ayuman /MEEV