By JOEY NACALABAN
and NITZ ARANCON
Correspondents .
POLICE would be on heightened alert here and elsewhere in northern Mindanao today as militants prepare to take to the streets to dramatize their grievances in time for President Duterte’s third state-of-the-nation address (Sona).
Police regional director Chief Supt. Timoteo Pacleb ordered the city and provincial directors in northern Mindanao to tighten security measures but to treat demonstrators with maximum tolerance.
Camp Alagar spokesman Supt. Surki Sereñas said Pacleb wants the police here and across the region to be prepared for any eventuality. “Nag-expect man gyud ta nga na-ay mga activities ang mga activists. At least, walay mahitabo nga violence ug mahimong malinawon ang ilang mga activity nga ipahigayon,” Sereñas told the Gold Star Daily.
Pacleb’s order, he said, is for officers not to repress citizens’ right to assembly and expression.
“Katungod baya kana sa isa ka tawo nga mo-express sa ilahang mga comment ug mga ideas, ug pog-ngan nato na, violation pud sa ilahang tawhanong mga katungod,” said Sereñas.
He said as long as the protesters would not disrupt the flow of vehicular traffic or cause the general public inconvenience, the police would not disperse them.
Activists plan to greet Duterte’s third Sona with street protests here and other key areas in the country. Here, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and the Movement Against Tyranny (Mad) have joined forces.
Fr. Jong Abejo, MAD spokesman, said protesters would stage mass actions in downtown Cagayan de Oro that would culminate at the Magsaysay Park in Divisoria later in the day. The demonstrations would be staged starting this morning until this afternoon.
“Ipadayag namo ang mga issues nga anti-people,” said said Vennel Chenfoo, spokesman of the group Kabataan.
Protesters, he said, would echo public issues and concerns regarding the the Duterte administration’s taxation, contractualization, agriculture, human rights violations, salary increases, Oil Industry Deregulation Law, health, education, and the martial law, among others.
Chenfoo said activists would start flocking at the capitol grounds at around 9 am and then march towards CM Recto Avenue, Osmeña Avenue, JR Borja Street, all the way to Divisoria.
He said protest organizers would then stage their own version of the Sona in Divisoria shortly before Duterte addresses Congress this afternoon.
“Kanang Sona sa Presidente gakalas kalas lang sa oras. Unsa ba iyang i-report sa katawhan nga wala man siyay nahimo nga kaayohan sulod sa duha na niya katuig sa gahum,” Chenfoo said.
He said said many of Duterte’s promises in 2016 remained unfulfilled even as he warned that citizens wre becoming more and more discontented.
The activists here expect workers, farmers and academics to take part in the demonstrations.
Supt. Mardy Hortillosa, spokesman of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office, said a security plan has been prepared in the city.
Hortillosa also said the group Bayan has secured a permit for the demonstrations.
He said Cocpo, Task Force Oro and city hall were committed to securing demonstrators and would respect of the right of citizens to express their sentiments.
“Amo gihangyo nga ila pud respitohon ang katungod sa uban nga mga tao pinaagi sa dili paghimo og bayolente nga binuhatan. Amo sab nga sila gihangyo nga dili lang unta nila tugutan nga ipauban nila ang mga bata kay supak ug dilikado kaayo para sa ilang safety,” Hortillosa said.
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