Protesters disrupt Arroyo speech at Cavite graduation

Youth activists on Friday sneaked past presidential guards and flashed anti-administration streamers in front of President Arroyo during graduation rites at the Cavite State University (CSU). Mrs. Arroyo had just started her speech when one of the graduates, Maria Theresa Pangilinan, stood up and waved a placard bearing anti-Charter change messages. A small group of youth activists belonging to Bagong Alyansa Makabayan (Bayan) and League of Filipino Students (LFS) later stood up from the gallery and shouted "Gloria Ibagsak!" (Down with Gloria) and "No to Chacha." Visibly disturbed by the protesters, Mrs. Arroyo stopped her speech and looked at the activists. Plainclothes policemen and Presidential Security Group (PSG) personnel escorted the protesters outside the campus. In an interview with GMA 7's DZBB, youth organizer Sheryl Villegas said they organized their protest after CSU students informed them on Thursday that Mrs. Arroyo will be the guest speaker during the graduation. "Short notice lang, short preparation. Gusto lang naming ipaalam kay Arroyo na hindi totoo na sa Metro Manila lang malakas ang protesta laban sa kanya," she said. The President reportedly proceeded to finish her speech as if the protest action did not happen. She talked about the accomplishments of her administration's initiatives. Pangilinan, a mass communications graduate, went up the stage later during the commencement exercises and received her diploma from Mrs. Arroyo.-GMANews.TV, with a report from inq7.net