Anti-riot cops block Manila pocket rallies

The Manila Police District (MPD) had their hands full yesterday as they held off several groups of demonstrators from marching to Mendiola, which has been declared a "no rally" zone.

As early as 7 a.m., some 100 members of the People’s Assembly of Genuine Alternative to Social Apathy, led by running priest Father Robert Reyes, assembled at the Plaza Miranda in front of the Quiapo church.

The group called for fasting and praying to "enlighten the mind of President Arroyo and give her courage to step down."

The group later swelled to 250 as they were joined in by some militant groups also calling for the ouster of Mrs. Arroyo. The groups then marched to Luneta, then Plaza Roma and ended at the Manila Cathedral where they heard Mass.

At past noon, some 70 members of militant government organization Courage tried to march to Mendiola, but were blocked by the MPD’s Civil Disturbance Management Team (CDMT) at the corner of P. Noval street and España Boulevard near the University of Sto. Tomas.

The group later dispersed peacefully.

Meanwhile, CDMT personnel manning the Chino Roces bridge at the approach to Malacañang were caught off-guard when known opposition personalities, led by Nathaniel Santiago of Bayan, leftist lawyer Romeo Capulong and self-confessed jueteng bagmen Sandra Cam and Boy Mayor were spotted inside a fastfood joint at the corner of Mendiola and Concepcion Aguila streets, several meters away from Malacañang.

Police, led by Superintendent Ferdinand Quirante, and the Presidential Security Group (PSG) kept a close watch on the group, which Santiago said was planning to hear Mass at nearby San Miguel Parish Church.

Last Monday, an opposition-led group managed to sneak into the same church to hear Mass. The group, led by Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay, later gathered in front of the church and unfurled a banner calling for the setting up of a caretaker council that would hold snap elections.