GMA cancels Negros visit; row over Proclamation 1017

President Arroyo reportedly canceled her March 9 visit to Negros supposedly to attend the Sigaw ng Bayan Charter Change rally. This was announced by Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon. But there was no explanation for the cancellation.

Transportation Undersecretary Ricardo Tan, a close associate of the President, said this was due to other commitments but added that she would come later.

Speculations, however, centered on the possibility that it may have been due to the scheduled March 8 protest vigil at the Bacolod Plaza called by Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra. Many other organizations, both Church-based and non-government, have pledged to join the protest action.

Meanwhile, the Bacolod Sangguniang Panglunsod unanimously passed a resolution Thursday highlighting their grave concern over Proclamation No. 1017 and General Order No. 5

The SP members — particularly Councilors Lyndon Caña, Homer Bais and Greg Gasataya — expressed concern that while the threat was confined to Manila, it covered the entire country.

While the SP stands squarely behind the Constitution and rejected any form of violent takeover of the government, it noted that rebellion or coup d’etat is a continuing crime and does not require prior declaration of a state of emergency to effect warrantless arrests.

It expressed concern that Proclamation 1017 and GO 5 seemed to have targeted media. It sent a chilling effect reminiscent of the press under Martial Law, the SP pointed out.

Marañon, on the other hand, expressed hope that the President would lift Proclamation 1017, which she did yesterday.

Taking up the cudgels for the media, the governor said he doubts that the police have the competence to censor media under a state of emergency.

Media protest

In Western Visayas, mediamen rallied against Proclamation 1017 calling it the death of democracy.

But in contrast to the vociferous and often violent protests staged by militant organizations, the Negros A3 coalition’s protest Wednesday night at the Fountain of Justice was determined but sober.

The main point stressed during the rally was that Article 3 of the Constitution bans any law that abridges freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and freedom of expression.

Even veteran journalists normally not involved in any protest actions, joined the practicing mediamen in protesting Proclamation 1017.

They were joined by supporters from Bayan, peace advocates and a handful of non-government organizations. But the rally remained calm. The highlight was the burning of candles around the bier of democracy.

It had its humorous side though. Senior Superintendent Pedro Merced, Bacolod police chief, roared into the corner of Luzuriaga and Araneta Avenues with four vehicles loaded with anti-riot cops.

When he disembarked from his police car, Merced found the mediamen who even joked with him that they "don’t have a permit" because they did not apply for any since it was a protest against Proclamation 1017.

When he asked the media personalities not to block traffic, the mostly female journalists pointed out that they were just lined up along the sidewalks and the fountain. They then offered their hands to be manacled.

Merced grudgingly admitted that the 100 rallyists were well-behaved, putting up only placards and not creating any disturbance whatsoever.

The affair ended up with Merced bantering with the members of the press.

Iloilo row

In Iloilo City, the protest was highlighted by the Panay News regional daily taking potshots at Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales for having ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the city prosecutor’s office to closely monitor them.

Gonzales reportedly considers the paper very critical of him.

Panay News editor-in-chief Danny Fajardo (on leave) charged Gonzales with abusing Proclamation 1017 to go after his perceived enemies.

Sammy Julian, Mannila news bureau chief of the paper and former president of the Malacañang Press Corps, also came up with a statement saying that Gonzales was using the presidential proclamation for his own "personal vendetta" toward media institutions he perceives to be unfriendly to him.

Fajardo claimed that Gonzales even delivered a privilege speech once in the House when still a congressman, hitting the commentaries against him in Panay News.

Gonzales reportedly told the NBI and the prosecutor’s office to also monitor radio commentaries and news reports in violation of the guidelines set by the KBP as well as those which intend to incite people to rebellion.

That memo reportedly elicited a reaction from National Press Club president Tony Antonio, who said it was a clear threat to press freedom. Johnny Dayang, president of the Publishers Association of the Philippines, reportedly also expressed alarm over the memo that ordered government agencies to "take note of news stories and commentaries, as well as editorials, which may be considered as inciting readers to sedition, on a daily basis."

Gonzales also reportedly singled out the Daily Informer because he once had a tiff with its publisher, Bernie Miaque.

The situation in Iloilo contrasts with that of Negros where local mediamen seem to have maintained a cordial relationship with government, police and military officials.

Well, all that furor died down with the flash report that the President had already lifted Proclamation 1017.

That also undercut the planned protest rally by Church authorities on March 8. Still, that does not necessarily mean that Proclamation 1017 should be allowed to pose a future threat to the country and especially to the media.

Stop wildlife trafficking

Amid the Proclamation 1017 imbroglio, the post campaign launched by the Negros Forests and Ecological Foundation Inc. Thursday attracted my attention.

It is a campaign against wildlife trafficking because the situation is getting worse. Dr. Leo Suarez, curator of the NEFFI’s Biodiversity Conservation Center, said trafficking of wildlife is getting worse.

"Unfortunately, many of our protected indigenous species are in grave danger of extinction, especially the Visayan warty pig and the Philippine spotted dear. This is the result of hunting, selling and buying of wildlife as well as loss of habitat because our forests continue to be cut down," Dr. Suarez observed.

He lauded the provincial government for doing its part in saving the beautiful, but endangered animals of Negros. But he accented the need for help, especially from politicians, lawmen, the public and other NGOs.

The campaign is funded by a grant from the US Peace Corps. Two tarpaulin posters about the campaign are now prominently displayed in key sites in Bacolod City and other major cities of the province.

Well, that’s something that is considered important other than the protests over Proclamation 1017. At least, it is expected to help preserve our dwindling wildlife.