Now it’s ‘calibrated tolerance’ in rallies

Maximum tolerance is out, "calibrated tolerance" is in.

Malacañang said yesterday the police will observe "calibrated tolerance" during rallies by groups protesting US military presence in the country.

This developed as scores of protesters were hurt when they clashed with anti-riot policemen in front of the US Embassy in Manila during a demonstration that put to the test the Arroyo administration’s "no permit, no rally" policy.

"Calibrated tolerance means police are ready to use any appropriate measure in response to the action of the other side. If they are peaceful, then the police will also be peaceful," National Security Adviser Roilo Golez said.

"If they violate the laws, necessary actions will be taken by the police. But the police will always observe respect for human rights, our laws and our Constitution. And I also want to emphasize that while they have human rights, other people also have human rights," Golez stressed.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) pledged to continue observing maximum tolerance and respect the rights of rallyists, but will use force if they become unruly.

Acting PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Cipriano Querol said maximum tolerance ends when the rallyists start provoking violence.

Querol also said they will implement a new strategy called "graduated response" in handling demonstrations, apparently referring to what the Palace called "calibrated tolerance."

He said the scheme involved three stages of warning situations–initial and peaceful, riotous and violent.

Querol added that the primary concern of the authorities is "public safety."

Once violence erupts, the rally leaders will be duly warned to staple any activity that tended to disrupt peace and order.

"The use of violence will be the last resort. Proper negotiations will be made with respected leaders (of the rallyists)," Querol pointed out. "The PNP rules of engagement will be enforced."

He warned that violators will be charged with breach of Batas Pambansa 880 which covers illegal assembly, malicious burning of any objects including effigies, throwing of pillbox, and carrying of firearms and other deadly weapons.

The Metro Manila police has created a Task Force Powell to beef up security for the visiting US official.

Metro Manila police chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco clarified that maximum tolerance and calibrated response were essentially the same.

"The only difference is that the rallyists in the past were allowed to stage rallies even without permits, but this time they cannot. The time warning would also be lessened from 15 to five minutes," Velasco said.

He said that he could not understand why the radical groups were protesting visit of US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

"I don’t know why they are angry at the visit of Secretary Powell when it is but normal for two friendly nations that their secretary of state and secretary of foreign affairs visit each other," Velasco said.

For his part, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the government does not prevent protest actions. "All we are requesting them is to respect the rights of others and if they don’t respect the rights of others, then the police will make a calibrated response," he said.

Rallyists try to storm US Embassy

Protesters tried to storm the US Embassy on Roxas Boulevard, triggering a melee where several of them were hurt. The rallyists, mostly students, stampeded toward the embassy, but were blocked by the civil disturbance management squad of the Western Police District (WPD).

After a brief standoff, the protesters pretended to retreat to nearby Plaza Ferguson, but suddenly turned back, crossed the boulevard and tried to storm the embassy gates.

However, the police showed them back with shields and truncheons, with many of the protesters, several of them women, pinned against vehicles caught in the traffic snarl, while others fell and were stomped on the pavement during the fracas.

Three of the lawmen were also reportedly hurt. They were identified as PO1 Robert Resurrecion, PO3 Francis Ongco and a certain Mempis.

Resurrecion’s hand was accidentally hit by a truncheon, Mempis was hit by a rock from the ranks of the rallyists, while a car ran over Ongco’s foot.

A 300-strong anti-riot contingent was deployed to the area where an some 500 followers of leftist organizations converged to protest US military presence in the country and the forthcoming signing of the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) between the two countries.

Leaders of the militant groups also took turns denouncing President Arroyo’s lifting of the "maximum tolerance" policy pertaining protest actions.

The radical organizations included Peace Camp, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Bayan Muna, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Akbayan, Kilusang Mayo Uno and Migrante International.

The rally was timed for the Manila visit of Powell.

A leader of the rallyists, Raymond Villanueva, said they will also stage a picket at the Manila Hotel where Powell will be billeted during his brief stay in Manila.

Villanueva also said they will push their protest actions even without a permit.

"We do not need permits to conduct these actions as the right to assemble is a right enshrined in the Constitution," he stressed.

Newly installed WPD director Senior Superintendent Pedro Bulaong vowed there would be no violent dispersal provided that the rallyist do not obstruct vehicular traffic or instigate violence.

"We will not disperse them for as long as they keep the rally peaceful," Bulaong said.

Meanwhile, about 200 US supporters, holding placards that said "We love America," were allowed to hold a rally in front of the embassy, guarded by police special forces armed with assault rifles.

A machinegun mounted on a military jeep was also stationed near the gates of the embassy.

ARMM‘s Hussin welcomes Powell

In another development, Gov. Parouk Hussin of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao welcomed Powell’s visit, saying it would strengthen the global campaign against terrorism.

In a statement, Hussin said the people of Basilan were saddened by the departure of the US troops who took part in a joint military training exercise in the island province, and feared the resurgence of Abu Sayyaf atrocities if the benefits of the just-concluded maneuvers were not sustained.

The ARMM governor added that the socio-economic efforts of the exercise dubbed Balikatan 02-1 "won the hearts and minds" of the people of Basilan. — Marichu Villanueva, Christina Mendez, Mike Frialde, Sandy Araneta, Non Alquitran