Paniqui is also the hometown of Tarlac first district Rep. Gilbert Teodoro Jr., Danding’s known favorite nephew and one of President Estrada’s so-called "Bright Boys."
In other developments:
• Anti-Estrada groups in Davao City picketed banks yesterday as they kicked off their week-long protest actions to press for the President’s resignation.
• In Cebu City, Mayor Alvin Garcia may put off the much-awaited formal inauguration of the multimillion-peso Heritage Monument in Plaza Parian should protesters insist on holding anti-Estrada rallies.
The P34-million monument is scheduled to be inaugurated on Dec. 8 with Mr. Estrada as guest of honor, upon the invitation of Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.
• About 85 percent of public transportation in Bacolod City was paralyzed in yesterday’s strike staged by anti-Estrada transport groups.
The delegation from Danding’s hometown joined a convoy of other protesters ferried by 20 Philippine Rabbit buses and 15 passenger jeepneys that converged at the common transport terminal along the Ninoy Aquino Boulevard in this city.
The protesters were led by the local anti-Estrada coalition, "Resign Erap! Sigaw ng mga Tarlaqueño" or REST, the opposition Lakas-NUCD and Kabalikat ng mga Malayang Pilipino (Kampi).
"Our people regret the seeming return of the dark days. We have decided to join the fight to preserve our democratic gains at EDSA in 1986," said former Paniqui mayor Cesar Cuchapin.
Cuchapin, together with his son, Christian, chairman of Paniqui’s Sangguniang Kabataan, and municipal councilor Brett Recto, led the protesting group from the town.
Eliseo Cadiang, chairman of the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan-Tarlac), said protesters from Tarlac will be ferried everyday to Metro Manila until the culmination of the week-long protest activities.
The militant students — coming from the Tarlac State University, Tarlac College of Agriculture, College of the Holy Spirit, Central Luzon Doctors’ Hospital, Osias Colleges and the United School of Science and Technology — began their noise barrage last Monday, the 68th birth anniversary of the late former Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., in front of the San Sebastian Cathedral.
Militant student leaders decided to stop barricading the MacArthur and Romulo highways last Monday after a brief negotiation with anti-riot policemen.
Cadiang of Bayan-Tarlac said transport groups in the province have signified their intention to join Isang Linggong Protesta tomorrow, National Heroes’ Day, by staging a provincewide transport strike.
Cadiang said the planned strike will paralyze transportation from this city to the 17 towns of Tarlac, and to the neighboring provinces of Pampanga, Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan.
The anti-Estrada groups are also preparing for massive march rallies tomorrow and on Friday. Capping the week-long protest actions will be a People’s Congress, dubbed "Kongreso sa Kamindanawan: Erap Resign!," at the Ateneo de Davao University on Saturday.
In Cebu, Mayor Garcia said he will personally appeal to anti-Estrada protesters not to hold any rally on Dec. 8. Besides, he said he would not grant any permit to groups planning to stage rallies near Plaza Parian on that day. — With Edith Regalado, Antonieta Lopez and Freeman News Service