Police to secure oil firms during protest caravan

MANILA, Philippines - At least 100 anti-riot policemen would secure the offices of the Big 3 oil companies in Makati City in today’s scheduled protest caravan by two transport groups.

Southern Police District (SPD) director Chief Superintendent Jaime Calungsud said he would strictly enforce the Philippine National Police “no permit, no rally” policy in today’s protest caravan to be staged by the Pasang Masda and the militant Pinag-isang Samahan ng Tsuper at Operaytor Nationwide (PISTON).

“I’m advising the protest caravan leaders to secure first a permit from Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay before proceeding with the activities because we are bent on enforcing the PNP’s “no permit, no rally” policy,” said Calungsud in an interview.

The SPD director directed Senior Superintendent Cedric Train, Makati City police chief, to deploy his anti-riot policemen in the Ayala Triangle where the offices of the Big 3 oil firms Shell Oil, Petron and Chevron are located. The local police would be augmented by anti-riot cops from the SPD headquarters.

Calungsud said they would maintain a maximum tolerance attitude in dealing with the protest caravan but warned that they would not hesitate to “disperse” them should they violate the “rule of law.”

Calungsud asked the rally leaders to police their ranks to prevent terrorist groups from taking advantage of the situation.

The SPD director ordered the deployment of anti-riot cops in Makati City following announcement by Pasang Masda president Roberto Martin that they would push through with their protest action today despite the announced minimal oil price cuts by the Big 3.

In a radio interview, Martin pointed out that oil firms still owe the public P3.50/liter as they rolled back prices by P1/liter after raising prices it by P4.50/liter the last three weeks.

“That rollback is not enough. They still owe us and they must pay,” he said.

Martin said prices of diesel had been hovering between P26 to 27 per liter, but the price should be about P22 per liter.      – Non Alquitran