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The National Capital Region Police Office said they
will be meeting with the groups planning to hold protest actions on
Labor Day so as to assure peace and order on that day.
Metro Manila police Chief
Director Geary Barias said Monday that they want no disruption of
peace during the commemoration of Labor Day on May 1.
“Our template in dealing with
rallies has always been to negotiate and dialogue first with the
organizers”, Barias said.
Edwin Bustillos, the secretary
general of the Alliance of Progressive Labor, said last Thursday
that “oust-Arroyo” is still the theme of this year’s Labor Day
rallies, citing the government’s failure in providing food, jobs,
and justice to common workers.
The Manila Police District (MPD)
would deploy at least 2,500 policemen in Malacañang and other key
areas in Manila.
MPD Chief Supt. Roberto Rosales
said he already met with provincial police commanders to augment his
police force in time for the commemoration of Labor Day and EDSA 3.
Rosales said he instructed his
personnel to keep an eye on former President Joseph Estrada’s
bailiwicks, especially the depressed areas like Tondo and Sampaloc.
It was on May 1, 2001 that
Estrada’s supporters stormed Malacañang to protest his arrest for
plunder.
--Ruben D. Manahan 4TH
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