Political rallies banned at Shrine

Veterans of EDSA II, including militant groups, were prevented yesterday from participating in the first anniversary celebration of their victory as Church leaders banned the use of the Mary Queen of Peace Shrine for political activities.

Roads leading to the historic shrine on EDSA in Mandaluyong City were barricaded, causing tension between police and marchers, mostly from the Council of Philippine Affairs (COPA) and the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan).

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Socrates Villegas, rector of the Mary Queen of Peace, said the EDSA Shrine stands on Church property owned by the Archbishop of Manila "and therefore can only be used according to the rules of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese."

"As a matter of policy, the deck of the EDSA Shrine, the church area and its surroundings must be used only for strictly pastoral and religious activities," Villegas said in a statement.

He advised organizers of political and protest rallies to use other public venues for their activities.

Hundreds of marchers from the various groups that played a pivotal role in ousting President Joseph Estrada last year were enraged when told by policemen they could not enter the premises of the shrine.

"We are really disappointed. We did not expect to be barred from EDSA," COPA president Pastor "Boy" Saycon said.

Bayan secretary general Teddy Casiño denounced Malacañang for the move, saying it proves "EDSA is only for the rich and chosen ones."

"It seems that what we fought for in EDSA II is now gone. We have no intention of creating violence and yet we are barred from getting near the shrine. There is no need to be paranoid," Casiño said.

Metro Manila police director Director Edgar Aglipay said they have been given instructions not to allow the holding of any political activity near the shrine.

"The Shrine is private property and the Church does not want it to be used for any political activity, They do not want the Shrine to be desecrated again," Aglipay said.