PNP News Releases 2006

VETERAN NCR-CIVIL DISTURBANCE MANAGEMENT CONTINGENT READY TO FACE MILITANT ACTIVISTS IN CEBU ASEAN SUMMIT

Members of the Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) from the National Capitol Region Office (NCRPO) are now 100% ready to come face to face with the militant activists that are planning to stage series of rallies in connection with the 12 th Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Cebu City .

This 90-strong “veteran legion” of the mass rallies in Mendiola and EDSA will be deployed within the vicinity of the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC), where the summit will be held, and in other places where other delegates from ASEAN-member states are scheduled to visit.

Police Regional Office 7 Director, Chief Superintendent Silverio Alarcio Jr., warned the protesters, mostly non-Cebuanos, that they will be dealt accordingly if they will insist on holding their rallies outside the designated areas for their activities.

The PNP also expects that the same faces of protesters from Metro Manila will be leading the anti-ASEAN rallies in Cebu .

Alarcio earlier issued a stern warning against foreign activists who will participate in rallies that they will be arrested promptly for troublemaking as it is with their local counterparts.

Alarcio ordered the PNP here to coordinate with the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) so that a thorough background check can be made on foreigners entering Cebu to determine if they are affiliated with international militant organizations.

Alarcio said the PNP in Cebu City will keep the No-Permit-No-Rally policy enforced to insure that any mass action will not cause undue disruption in the city while the ASEAN Summit is in progress.

Alarcio also warned the operators and owners of barges and boats in Cebu that their sea vessels will be confiscated in case they allow militant protesters to use them in a planned fluvial protest.

Alarcio expressed belief that despite the move of the local government to provide a proper venue for the protesters, the militants will still insist in holding their mass actions near the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC), the main venue of the summit and along the ceremonial roads.

However, protesters who will hold their rally in the Freedom Park , the only designated place by the local government for the rallyists, will be provided with free snacks aside from securities.

“I will give them free snack if they will just stay within the designated place for the rallies and will do away with troublemaking,” said Alarcio.

Alarcio branded some leaders of militant rallyists as “troublemakers” whose mere objective is to embarrass the government from the eyes of the foreign dignitaries in ASEAN Summit at the expense of the people of Cebu province.

“Many of these protesters are not from Cebu . Some are foreigners. So I urge the people of Cebu to speak up and stand up against these leftist militant leaders who plan to go to the streets and spoil the otherwise festive mood in Cebu City ,” Alarcio said.

Sr. Supt. Carmelo Valmoria, PRO 7 Deputy Regional Director for Operations urged the protesters not to use children in their rallies.

Valmoria asked protesters to respect the rights of the children by not putting them on the frontline of the protest actions.