Rallyists dispersed at EDSA Shrine

Anti-riot policemen dispersed yesterday at least 70 militant workers from Southern Tagalog when they held a protest rally in front of the EDSA Shrine in Mandaluyong City.

"There was pushing and shoving and a brief chase, but we did not use force or our truncheons in driving them away," said Chief Superintendent Charlemagne Alejandrino, director of the Eastern Police District (EPD).

Alejandrino warned that the EDSA Shrine would continue to be "off-limits" to rallyists during the Labor Day protest rallies today.

At least 11 jeepneys carrying Bayan members from Southern Tagalog were on their way to the People’s Power Monument (PPM) in Quezon City when they stopped at the EDSA Shrine and unfurled anti-Arroyo banners.

Since there was on ongoing Mass at the EDSA Shrine at 10:30 a.m., Alejandrino said they asked the rally leader, a certain Ka Arman, to stop their protest rally and instead continue their caravan toward Quezon City.

The militant workers refused and a scuffle ensued between the anti-riot cops and the militant workers.

"Nagkaroon ng agawan ng banners, tulakan at habulan," the EPD director said, noting that the rallyists had no permit to hold a rally.

In their bid to elude arrest, one of the rallyists’ vehicles rammed the glass window of a drugstore some 50 meters away from the church.

Police said the drugstore management did not pursue filing charges against the jeepney driver after rally leaders gave assurance they would pay for the damage.

The rallyists regrouped and continue their caravan toward the PPM.

As early as 8 a.m. yesterday, Alejandrino deployed at least 100 anti-riot policemen at the premises of the EDSA Shrine to prevent rallyists from gathering there.

The Catholic church has banned rallies at the site.