Militants confirm summit protests

Filipino militants have confirmed that they and their foreign counterparts will hold a series of protests in Cebu during the staging of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit from December 10 to 14.

Jerry Corpuz, spokesman of the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA), said their own summit, which is dubbed the "People's Event," will be held from December 10 to 12.

In a radio interview, Corpuz said part of their activities would be a fluvial parade from Talisay City to the Mactan Bridge participated in by fisherfolk and other cause-oriented groups such as Bayan and Anakpawis.

He also confirmed that the over 100 international delegates to their protest actions would soon be arriving in Cebu.

"Most probably, galing sila sa mga bansang Southeast Asia, USA and continental Europe, and they will probably discuss issues such as on human rights and economic during the parallel counter summit," Corpuz said.

Corpuz also urged Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to pull out from Cebu the thousands of soldiers who are currently augmenting the security forces for the ASEAN Summit.

He said these soldiers are no longer needed and are just terrorizing civilians in Cebu. - Flor Z. Perolina