Velarde reacted to the violent dispersal Friday night by police of the prayer rally in Mendiola, Manila led by religious leaders and some prominent political figures. Police had hosed down the rallyist with a water cannon, an action that was received negatively by various sectors, particularly by religious groups, including the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV).

The PPCRV, also commenting on the violent dispersal, yesterday called on members of the Church hierarchy and other church organizations to publicly denounce the water- blasting by police of the rallyists,

Velarde also believes that the calibrated preemptive response (CPR) policy adopted by the administration against demonstrators will not deter the people from going to the streets, saying it would only add fuel to the present political instability.

The charismatic leader urged everybody to help defuse the political tension in the country which he said is worsening.

"The religious, business, and academe leaders, I believe, setting aside personal interests and partisan considerations, can use their influence to bring back sanity to our troubled political condition," Velarde said.

"I am encouraging all concerned leaders on both sides to come to the conference table to fashion principled cooperation for the sake of our suffering people and for the survival of our democratic institution," Velarde said.

The PPCRV said if the police could execute the "calibrated preemptive response" on Church leaders, then they can also do it against ordinary citizens.

"If members of our police force could execute such calibrated preemptive response to a group of notable Church leaders, then what possible reason can hold them from not doing the same to ordinary citizens of this country?" the group said.

"We therefore call upon other members of the Church hierarchy, together with all other mandated church organizations and transparochial communities, to publicly denounce this occurrence and to factor-in this event in their ongoing reflection of the political condition of our motherland," the group said.

The group said when public expression and free speech are haphazardly equated to economic sabotage and subversion, then oppression is not far behind.

"Public opinion can only be intimidating to a leader when truth is its handmaid. Unity is the product of dialogue and not of forced passivity and silence," the PPCRV said.

"National reconciliation and healing is realized through critical solidarity and discourse, and not in the deprivation of one’s right to free speech. Governance is not just the art of speaking or of doing but of listening as well," the group added.

The PPCRV is the Catholic Church’s poll watchdog and the Commission on Elections citizen’s arm during the 2004 national and local elections.

Dispersal prompts

opposition to

challenge CPR

By EDMER F. PANESA

The violent dispersal of a religious procession last Friday night in Mendiola, Manila only made opposition and party-list lawmakers more eager to test the government’s calibrated preemptive response (CPR) as they vowed to join future protest rallies against the Arroyo administration.

House Minority Leader Francis Escudero yesterday said he was willing to lead a congressional delegation to Mendiola and endure what political and church leaders had suffered from anti-riot personnel.

In a press conference, Escudero also condemned the hosing down of participants in the procession led by former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr., saying this was uncalled for as there was no danger to public safety.

"What danger could have it posed to public interest? What danger could have it posed to Malacañang?" asked Escudero, who was joined by Reps. Rolex Suplico (Iloilo) and Teofisto "TG" Guingona III.

Guingona III warned President Arroyo that her "inhuman" policy against demonstrations could further the people’s resentments toward her administration, which could lead to her downfall.

Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, who was among the rallyists last Friday, said he will join street protests in Manila later this week by peasant organizations from Luzon demanding land reform and President Arroyo’s removal.

Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano announced that the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) plans to reclaim Mendiola Bridge on Friday, Oct. 21.

Mariano, concurrent KMP chairman, said more than 1, 000 farmers from Southern Tagalog yesterday kicked-off their "Martsa ng Magbubukid at Mamamayan Laban sa Diktaduryang US-Arroyo" from Calamba, Laguna.

Rep. Crispin Beltran, also of Anakpawis, said the Arroyo presidency has thrown all caution to the wind and all its pretenses of being a believer in democracy when it refused to apologize for, and even justified, last Friday’s violent dispersal of the prayer rally.

Meanwhile, the prayer and fasting for peace led by running priest Fr. Robert Reyes at the People Power Monument on EDSA, Quezon City completed its 100 days yesterday with a mass which Reyes said was a celebration of many colorful and enriching experiences during the fasting.

Reyes said the fasting led to the birth of a community, the Kubol PAGASA (People’s Assembly for Genuine Alternatives to Social Apathy), whose members braved bad weather, criticism, ridicule, rejection and "calibrated" harassment from Metro Manila Development Authority personnel, and police.

Meanwhile, Kilusang Makabansang Ekonomiya (KME) president and former Vice President Teofisto Guingona said the rule of law President Arroyo has created was tantamount to martial law.

Guingona also said: "In times of crisis, one has to act in accordance to conviction. As long as there is spark, let’s fight! If we will not go out of our houses, we will not have the rights anymore. This is democracy. They don’t own our lives. We should be more decent with people even if they don’t agree with us." (with a report by Ellalyn De Vera)