Cops secure EDSA Shrine from rallyists - report

MANILA, Philippines - On the 23rd anniversary of the 1986 EDSA-1 Revolution, police tightly guarded the EDSA Shrine, the symbol of peaceful change, in Mandaluyong City early Wednesday. Radio dzBB’s Sam Nielsen reported that the Eastern Police District deployed police from the cities of Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan and Marikina to secure the shrine. The EPD said the policemen have instructions to implement the "no permit, no rally" policy, three days after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo warned that the world "will not tolerate another EDSA." Also, the report said the police assigned to the area put up a tent at the intersection of Ortigas Avenue and Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA). President Arroyo will skip this year’s EDSA-1 anniversary rites and will instead preside over a jobs fair. For his part, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde insisted there was no hidden meaning to the supposed snub, saying Mrs. Arroyo merely wanted to "distribute the starring role." “Distribute natin ang starring role sa EDSA celebrations ... si Pangulong Gloria naman pupunta sa isang job fair precisely to demonstrate na binibigyan natin ng priority ngayon ang pagsisikap bigyang trabaho ang ating kababayan [We are distributing the starring role in the EDSA celebrations. The president is going to the jobs fair precisely to demonstrate we are giving priority to giving people jobs]," Remonde said on dzXL radio. In a separate interview, deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez Jr. said the jobs fair had been scheduled previously. "Sa unang araw nakita natin nagbigay pugay siya [sa EDSA celebration] at ngayon tutok siya sa jobs fair at economic programs ng administrasyon [She attended the first day of the celebration, so today she will focus on providing jobs and on the economy]," he said on dwIZ radio. - GMANews.TV