Cops ready for rallies

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Police Office intelligence chief Romeo Santander said they are ready for any possible protests or civil disturbance from Cebu-based supporters of Rep. Gloria Arroyo.  

Reports of possible pro-Gloria demonstrations in Cebu surfaced after the Supreme Court released on Tuesday a Temporary Restraining Order against the Hold Departure Order issued by the Department of Justice against the former president.

Though with the issuance of the TRO, the DOJ insisted that Arroyo should not be allowed to leave the country in order to face allegations against her during his administration, which also brought the issue of a constitutional crisis because of an apparent rift between the executive and judiciary.

In Cebu, a move to launch a signature campaign condemning the TRO was pushed by several anti-Arroyo groups who claimed that most of the judges who voted for the TRO were Arroyo’s appointees.

However, those who sympathize and support Arroyo insist that DOJ should adhere to the TRO and allow Arroyo to leave as part of her inherent right.

With such an apparent divide, Santander said the intelligence community is monitoring to confirm the rumored demonstrations in the city.

“Wala pa g’yud ta’y na-monitor nga paglihok dinhi,” Santander said.

He said they received information from their counterparts in Manila that pro-Arroyo groups, and also those against her, are preparing protests to show their sentiments. 

He said if groups choose to conduct peaceful demonstrations he assured the public that they will impose maximum tolerance in order to maintain peace and order.

“Kun naa’y mga rally-rally. Diha mi mo-come to open, but unless naa na gali mga grupo nga mag-sinamok, amo na gyud silang pitulon,” he said. 

Santander, however, clarified that with the developments of Arroyo’s case in Manila they are not taking chances.

This is even if Cebuanos by nature are not violent judging from previous peaceful demonstrations held in the city, Santander said.

He said compared to demonstrators in Manila, groups that usually conduct demonstrations in Cebu have long been identified by the police and most of them even coordinate with the police regarding their demonstrations.  

He assured the entire Philippine National Police will be neutral throughout any possible demonstrations. (FREEMAN)