Pro and anti-GMA groups cross paths

MANILA, Philippines — Despite all the security and confusion, all the traffic, and all the rain, there was no stopping hundreds of political activists and supporters of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo from hitting the streets and lambasting each other in front of the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) compound in Quezon City Friday.

Tension briefly erupted outside the VMMC North Avenue Gate around 10 a.m. when some 100 members of militant groups, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and Gabriela Women’s Party, continued to call for the jailing of Mrs. Arroyo and confronted around 200 of her supporters. Police said some of the supporters of Mrs. Arroyo even came all the way from Pampanga, carrying placards that expressed thanks to their current congressional representative.

“Kung walang corrupt walang mahirap, bakit marami kami (No corruption, no poverty; why are we [who are poor] so many)?” read one placard that took a dig on President Benigno S. Aquino III’s winning campaign slogan.

Police said they would not disperse the Arroyo supporters, who had lined up at the VMMC entrance gate since sunrise, as long as their assembly remained peaceful and orderly.

But the peace was disturbed briefly around 10 a.m. when Bayan and Gabriela militants arrived. Placard-holding Gabriela members reportedly engaged the pro-Arroyo demonstrators in a verbal tussle.

Fortunately, members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) prevented the shouting match to further escalate. Gabriela Partylist Representative Luz Ilagan who joined the protest noted that hospital arrest for Mrs. Arroyo is a stark contrast to the situation of political prisoners who are languishing in various jails across the country.

“At least 43 of the 365 political prisoners, mostly accused of trumped charges of rebellion are sick with various ailments yet they are forced to make do with cold and ordinary prison and inhospitable prison cells that they share with several other inmates accused of common crimes.

Considering the magnitude of the crimes that Mrs. Arroyo is being accused of, why should she be accorded such extra-special treatment?” Ilagan said.

KJ Catequista, Gabriella Women’s Party spokeswoman, said the alleged special treatment being given to Mrs. Arroyo is by itself scandalous considering that a growing majority of poor women are being deprived of health services.

Housewife Mila del Castillo, 57, of Barangay CAA, in Las Pinas City, said it is unfortunate that the government is persecuting Mrs. Arroyo despite the good things she had done for the country.

Joining a group of 20 pro-Arroyo residents of Barangay Marcelo, Sucat, Parañaque City, Castillo appealed to the Aquino administration to release the 64-year-old former president immediately.

“Kami po ay kusang loob na pumunta dito para ipakita ang aming suporta kay dating Pangulong Arroyo dahil sa tulong na nagawa niya sa amin at sa aming barangay, (We went here on our own to show our support to the former President because of the good things she has done for us and to our barangay,” one of the Parañaque residents said.

Meanwhile, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo also arrived at the VMMC to do final checks on the facility where Mrs. Arroyo would be transferred.

Sheriff Rodelio Buenviaje of the Pasay Regional Trial Court (RTC) was also at the VMMC early Friday morning after being informed that the former President was to be transferred by air.

Security at the VMMC was tightened even days before the scheduled transfer. (by Elena L. Aben and Francis T. Wakefield)