GMA begins reconciliation dialogues with estranged allies

President Arroyo met at Malacañang yesterday with three party-list congressmen and the leader of a militant group in the first of a series of "reconciliation dialogues" with estranged EDSA II allies.

Mrs. Arroyo told reporters she discussed "many substantive issues" with Bayan Muna Representatives Crispin Beltran, Satur Ocampo and Lisa Maza, and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary general Teddy Casiño during breakfast at the Palace.

"This will be an ongoing dialogue," she said. "It’s part of the commemoration from Jan. 16 to Feb. 25 for the big groups behind EDSA II. I will be meeting different groups, not just one group. This is part of the institutionalized consultations."

Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said Mrs. Arroyo will hold similar dialogues with other groups within the next few days but he did not say whether they would include the People’s Consultative Assembly led by former Budget Secretary Salavador Enriquez Jr.

Meanwhile, militant demonstrators led by Bayan will re-enact people power II on Chino Roces (formerly Mendiola) Bridge across Malacañang in Manila on Sunday, the first anniversary of the overthrow of President Joseph Estrada.

Casiño told reporters demonstrators will march to Chino Roces from various points in Metro Manila after the Catholic Church barred them from holding a rally at the Mary Queen of Peace Shrine at the corner of EDSA and Ortigas Avenue in Quezon City.

"The celebration at Mendiola will relive the victory of the people," he said. "The people also trooped to Mendiola on the fateful day of Jan. 20 (last year) to demand (that) Estrada leave Malacañang."

On the other hand, Sanlakas and other militant groups will celebrate EDSA II at the People Power Monument near Camp Aguinaldo, also in Quezon City, some 100 miles from the Catholic shrine.

Wilson Fortaleza, Sanlakas national president, told reporters yesterday the EDSA shrine has been transformed into a "mini fascist enclave" in the middle of a historic avenue of freedom.

"The EDSA shrine is for the elite," he said. "How ironic it is that the symbol of freedom has now become a symbol of discrimination. That moment is for the poor and the disenfranchised."

Mrs. Arroyo said she backs the Catholic Church’s decision to declare the EDSA shrine off limits to political rallies.

"Actually, because that is private property," she said. "It is really being requested by the Church not to allow rallies without permits to be held there."

Last Wednesday, hundreds of troops ringed the EDSA Shrine after the Catholic Church barred entry into its premises on the first day of the EDSA II celebrations.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Socrates Villegas, the shrine’s rector, said the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila owns the EDSA Shrine because it stands on church property.

"And therefor (it) could only be used according to the rules of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese," he said. "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.

Manila Arcbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin does not want the shrine used for political purposes, he added.

Villegas said organizers of political and other protest rallies can use other venues.

Tiglao said Beltran, Ocampo and Maza reiterated to Mrs. Arroyo their "vehement" objection to her administration’s decision to allow US troops to take part in operations against the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan.

"The (Bayan Muna congressmen) of course, told the President what they are working for is the release of the 39 political prisoners," he said. "The President said she will direct the justice department to expedite the release of the prisoners."

The three congressmen told Mrs. Arroyo that they support the resumption of peace talks between the government and the communist rebels, he added.

But Beltran, Ocampo and Maza told reporters yesterday they reminded Mrs. Arroyo of her promise to study the 10-point agenda which Bayan Muna and Bayan had presented to her at the St. Theresa’s College in Quezon City on Nov. 16, 2000, when she was vice president.

The agenda includes the release of all political prisoners; halt to military operations nationwide resumption of peace negotiations between the GRP and the NDF and implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL);

Certify as urgent Bayan Muna’s bills for a P125 across-the-board wage hike and a P3,000 across-the-board salary increase for all workers and government employees nationwide; declare a moratorium on the demolition of urban poor communities; stop the government programs of privatization, deregulation and liberalization; decisively prosecute the cases against ousted President Joseph Estrada and his cronies and return him to the Sta. Rosa, Laguna jail. –Marichu Villanueva, Nestor Etolle, Romel Bagares, Sandy Araneta