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Manila gov’t, MPD ready for anti-con-ass rally set today

06/30/2009

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and Manila Police District (MPD) director chief Supt. Rodolfo Magtibay in a meeting yesterday at City Hall ironed out details on the scheduled anti-con-ass rally today by multi-sectoral groups and students.

Lim directed Magtibay to enforce a “maximum tolerance” policy even as he called on the protesters, represented by Renato Reyes of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), to keep their promise of policing their own ranks in order to keep their rally peaceful and orderly.

Based on an earlier dialog attended by Lim, Magtibay, Reyes, Bishop Joe Dizon, the secretary to the mayor Rafaelito Garayblas issued the necessary permits that allow the protesters to hold their rally at the Liwasang Bonifacio from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. today.

Dizon, during the said dialog, said that students from the Adamson University, Colegio de San Juan de Letran and the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila will comprise the bulk of the rallyists.

Lim also called on the protesters to make sure that they clean up whatever mess or litter they have left behind after airing their grievances.

“I am confident that they (protesters) will keep their promise to keep their march peaceful,” he said.

For his part, Magtibay said that aside from exercising maximum tolerance, the rallyists will also be escorted by mobile policemen to regulate traffic.

Magtibay said that more than 1,000 civil disturbance management personnel from the MPD will be deployed to be augmented by the National Capital Regional Police Office.

Magtibay said the rallyists will be coming from the Welcome Rotonda in España, Adamson University in San Marcelino, Malate and the PLM in Intramuros.

The official said they will even provide the protesters with police escorts as they march from three points in Manila to Liwasang Bonifacio.

Protesters said the march will start at 2 p.m. today. Participants will bring noisemakers to show their opposition to con-ass. Pat C. Santos