Violence mars rally at Cebu waterfront

CEBU — Violence erupted at the Cebu port the other day, the fourth day of the daily protest rallies staged by the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) and portworkers in front of the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) building, when rallyists and jeepney drivers clashed.

The jeepney drivers brought in by Port Commissioner Cerecio Mapula were mistaken by the rallyists as goons.

The protesters, who are demanding the ouster of Mapula and CPA general manager Antonio Elumir, clashed with Mapula’s supporters. The port police failed to control the crowd.

Two of Mapula’s supporters were hurt in the melee which was stopped with the arrival of maritime policemen.

For the first time, Mapula faced the protesters since the protest rallies started last Tuesday, but his 30-minute discourse was simply ignored or drowned by angry cries from the port-workers.

Mapula was accompanied by some supporters who identified themselves as members of the Alyansa sa Nagkahiusang Driver Alang sa Reporma (Andar).

Jessielou Cadungog, a director of the Oriental Port and Allied Services Corp. (Opascor), said more violence is expected at the waterfront if the CPA will not listen to their demands to oust Mapula and renew the cargo handling contract of Opascor at the Cebu International Port.

Eduardo Quijano, 42, and Edward Abrenica, 31, both Andar members, were injured when the rallyists, suspecting that they were "goons" hired by Mapula, pounced on them.

Abrenica said they voluntarily went to the port to support Mapula who, he said, might be harmed by the rallyists.

Quijano, who sustained wounds in the eyebrows and lumps on the head, said he will not hesitate to file charges of physical injuries against the protesters.

Protesters accused Quijano and Abrenica of possessing deadly weapons, which the two vehemently denied.

Quijano and Abrenica, in turn, accused protesters of starting the rumble.

But ALU-TUCP spokesperson Sundita Sayson clarified that the union was staging a peaceful rally and did not initiate the violence.

Sayson said the union will file a complaint against the CPA’s security chief for allowing Mapula’s "goons" in the rally area to intimidate the protesters. — Freeman News Service