Four activists arrested after protest dispersal

Four activists were arrested yesterday after militant groups failed to get through the security cordons around the Cebu International Convention Center, where the heads of state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations member countries and its dialogue partners met starting yesterday.

Members of the different militant groups made at least two separate attempts to hold a protest near the CICC but the military and the police immediately dispersed them. The first attempt was made by the members of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and its partylist group Bayan Muna past 8 a.m., this led to a 20-minute standoff between them and members of the Philippine Navy in Pier 5 before it was peacefully resolved.

The group headed by Bayan Central Visayas chairman Jaime Paglinawan met the Bayan members from Bicol, who were part of the 500 delegates of voyagers for peace from the different parts of the country.

The 170 Bicol delegates headed by Reynaldo Hababag were supposed to march together with the group of Paglinawan to the CICC after disembarking from a ship from Masbate, but they were prevented by the members of Navy armed with sticks and shields from leaving the pier.

The situation was resolved after maritime police officials and the leaders of the militant group agreed the activists will be escorted to the Zapatera Elementary School where they will be billeted as long as they will not march for the CICC.

Police cars escorted the militants to the school where they will be staying until Monday.

Aside from the Bicol delegates; 100 delegates from Bohol, 50 from Negros Islands, 120 from Luzon, 20 from Eastern Visayas and 20 from Mindanao are expected to join them.

Zapatera barangay captain Francisco Benedicto said that he was surprised to know the activists will be billeted in his barangay, he said his constituents might object because the activists are perceived to be a threat to peace and order.

But Arman Perez of Bayan Muna assured Benedicto they will not make trouble there because their activities will be held outside, he also said it was Mayor Tomas Osmeña who allowed them to use the school as their billeting area.

It was the second attempt that resulted to a violent dispersal and the arrest of the four militant leaders shortly before noon. Members of the Laban ng Masa and the group of Nagkahiusang Drivers sa Sugbo were then marching towards the CICC when they were stopped by the police in barangay Guizo, Mandaue City.

The group was given 30 minutes to finish their activity and disperse, but they allegedly refused to do so leading to violence after police tried to forcibly disperse them.

The members of the Mandaue City Police arrested four of the rallyists including one of their leaders and the driver of an Isuzu Elf truck they hired to transport them for holding an illegal assembly and for causing obstruction of traffic.

S/Insp. Abraham Ocampo of Mandaue City police station 1 said that Partido ng Mangagawa organizer Allan Bisquera, Buklurang Manggagawang Pilipino sa Cebu chairman Edwin Roasa, Farah Gamallo and Roberto Abellana were brought to the Mandaue City Police Office.

Abellana, the driver of the truck used by the militants, will also be charged for violation of the Republic Act 4136 or obstruction of traffic.

Lito Vasquez of Freedom from Debt Coalition said they were only expressing their views, and that although the protests were done peacefully the arrest of their members was made unlawfully.

He also said the police took from the group a video camera, a megaphone and a cellphone.

The group is also set to file charges against those who arrested their members, and if the lawmen also file complaints against their members, Vasquez said they are prepared to counter such complaints.

In Naga town policemen held 31 persons in the police station past 1 p.m. after they received reports that terrorists will arrive in the province.

However the town's chief of police P/Supt. Renato Malazarte yesterday said the persons were later found out to be Bayan Muna and Karapatan members from Bacolod City who entered the province via Toledo City and eventually released. - Fred P. Languido, Gregg M. Rubio, Norvie S. Misa, Liv G. Campo, Ramil V. Ayuman and Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon