AFP laughs off 'hakot' anti-govt crowd
Red-flag bearing rallyists belonging to militant organizations took center stage anew yesterday as the President delivered her State of the Nation Address (SONA).
With the Rotary Amphitheater stage in the Capitol premises as venue, loudspeakers were in full-volume at least two hours prior to the SONA. And like in past years, streamers adorned the area with statements lambasting the government.
And even before President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo started her speech, the rallyists seemingly had their minds made up and openly discredited the Arroyo administration.
For Captain Lowen Gil Marquez, commanding officer of the 32nd Civil Relations Group of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) here, it was one big "amusing spectacle." And the rallyists were "hakot crowd" too, Captain Marquez said as he went to disclose at least two passenger jeepneys from Leon, Iloilo loaded with student activists.
Uniformed police provided security in the protest site as traffic was stalled with usual practice of rallyists to flag down motorists for "donations."
"The front organizations of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) like Gabriela, Anak Pawis, League of Filipino Students, Kilusang Mayo Uno are back in the streets with their activities clearly anti-people," Captain Marquez added. "They do not want to hear the good works of the President and the economic programs because what they really want is to instill fear in the people and take advantage of the innocent members of the community."
Meantime, Captain Marquez awaits the reply of militant groups subject of his complaint before the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). Charging the militants for violating provisions against Child Abuse, Captain Marquez wants the CHR to take action against the group's use of minors in protest rallies.