FVR warns Arroyo vs curtailment of freedom

Former President Fidel V. Ramos on Sunday slammed Malacañan's order for a preemptive calibrated response to street protests without permits that virtually junked the maximum tolerance policy.

"There should be no curtailment of the freedom of expression," Ramos warned amid growing fears that the Arroyo administration would implement the full force of the law against perceived anarchist among the opposition.

Ramos, a staunch supporter of President Arroyo, issued the warning during an awarding ceremony for seafarers.

Ramos, however, pointed out that demonstrators should also be responsible. He urged them to hold their rallies in proper venues such as the Quirino Grandstand in Manila and not in busy business areas such as Makati.

"Hindi naman tama na gawin mo 'yun sa mga lugar na madaming tao, gaya ng Ayala, na may madadamay (It would not be proper to hold rallies in busy places like Ayala)," said Ramos.

On September 21, when 5,000 anti-Arroyo protesters marked the 33rd anniversary of the declaration of martial law, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita warned that the government would disperse rallies without permits and arrest those involved.

Ermita said the move follows intelligence reports of "credible plans of antigovernment groups to inflame the political situation, sow disorder and incite people against the duly constituted authorities."

Later Mrs. Arroyo said her government "will not tolerate" rallies that block traffic, hinder commerce and hurt the economy.

"Our government respects the rights of our people to assemble and to petition the government for redress of grievances. However, these rights, as guaranteed by the Constitution, are not absolute," she said in a statement.

Press Secretary Bunye said on Saturday that it is not only the Catholic Church that is supporting the President’s preemptive calibrated response to rallies but also the majority of the citizenry who want to go on with their daily lives.

Noting the inconvenience the rallies have been causing ordinary office workers particularly in Makati, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines on Friday issued a statement supporting the President’s order for a preemptive calibrated response to street protests without permits.

The CBCP agreed with the President that national interest and public order justified the implementation of the new policy, which amends the government’s stance of maximum tolerance.

The preemptive calibrated response, Bunye said, has replaced the policy of maximum tolerance because this has often been abused to the point that the protesters no longer respect authority.

The CBCP president, Archbishop Fernando Capalla of Davao, said the mass protest actions initiated by the opposition and militant groups demanding Mrs. Arroyo’s resignation have disrupted business and classes in the country’s premier financial district in Makati City.

No to martial law

Speaker Jose de Venecia on Sunday said he would oppose the imposition of another martial law in the country as talk of emergency rule has been circulating since Mrs. Arroyo warned she would implement the full force of the law against anarchists among the opposition.

"I will never sponsor any measure in Congress that will put the country under martial law," de Venecia said.

In a press statement, de Venecia admitted that Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales consulted him on how to deal the "unavoidable ill-effects of the global oil crisis on people’s livelihoods and on the economy as a whole."

The statement was not clear on what was Gonzales’ preposition to de Venecia but the Speaker went on saying that he "saw no justification for martial law and that a declaration of martial law would not pass Congress."

"I agreed with Secretary Gonzalez that it is prudent to prepare for any economic emergency. But I stated my belief that the oil crisis will resolve itself well short of a global emergency," de Venecia said.

Gonzales on Saturday admitted that he ordered a study of emergency steps that should be taken by the government if the economy deteriorates due to rising oil prices, citing constitutional provisions allowing a temporary takeover of vital industries.

Malacañan denied that Gonzales drafted a proclamation to a crack down on the President’s critics.

"That is totally false. There is no such (proclamation)," Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye told ANC television on Saturday. Gonzales said he would not advise the President to impose martial rule, because "the climate in Congress won’t allow it" and because he expects immediate opposition from lawmakers.

Bunye also denied that the proclamation was drafted amid the growing street protests of opposition groups asking for the ouster of the President.

He was reacting to Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay’s translation of the "preemptive calibrated response" declaration of Malacañan as a first step to implementing another martial law.