Thousands march, Labor Day ends peacefully

Labor Day ended peacefully as thousands of protesters from different groups concluded by Monday evening rallies that variously demanded a wage hike, opposed Charter change, and called for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to step down from office. After from minor scuffles, there were no major violent confrontations between police and demonstrators. There were also no military uprisings or terror attacks that the government had hinted could transpire on May 1. MENDIOLA In Mendiola, a phalanx of anti-riot policemen blocked members of Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino led by Leody de Guzman who tried to outmaneuver police guarding the approach to the Malacanang Palace. The group passed through Jones Bridge from their convergence point at Liwasang Bonifacio but anti-riot police cornered them at Escolta Street. Another group of protesters blocked by police at the corner of C.M. Recto Avenue and Morayta Street tried to negotiate holding a program at Mendiola Bridge but they were also prevented from doing so. Two busloads of alleged Labor Day protesters drove past security lines and attempted to step foot on the historic Mendiola Bridge in Manila. Policemen gave chase and cornered the group at Legarda Street. The passengers claimed they merely lost their way to the Mehan Garden near the Manila City Hall. Other groups decided to hold their programs away from Mendiola. Thousands of protesters, led by University of the Philippines (UP) professor Randy David and Akbayan party-list Rep. Etta Rosales, converged at the Plaza Miranda in Quiapo and later joined other demonstrators at Liwasang Bonifacio after holding a brief program at Plaza Miranda. Manila police on Monday morning also barred hundreds of supporters of ousted President Joseph Estrada from pushing their mass action at Mendiola. Ronald Lumbao, president of the People's Movement Against Poverty (PMAP), had a heated conversation with anti-riot policemen near the Mendiola district. Policemen denied access to Lumbao's group, maintaining that Malacañang had declared Mendiola a "no rally" zone. CLOSEST The protesters who were able to get the closest to the Palace were 14 union members from the Philippine Long Distance and Telephone Co. (PLDT) who sneaked through the lines of presidential guards, soldiers and policemen. They pretended to be visiting the St. Jude Church inside the compound. Wearing civilian clothes, the employees were able to pass through the complex's Gate 7. They changed into their yellow PLDT shirts once they were inside the church's premises. Police negotiated with the employees, who eventually agreed to leave the area. Because of the security breaches, policemen closed to traffic two streets leading to the Malacañang. Private and public vehicles, including media vehicles, were barred from passing through the J.P. Laurel and Solano streets. LIGHTNING RALLY In another development, several persons whose banners identified them as part of the Partidong Manggagawang Pilipino (PMP), allegedly a breakaway group of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), wearing red t-shirts and carrying a red hammer and sickle banner staged a lightning rally on Liwasang Bonifacio. Shouting, “Rebolusyon! Hindi Cha-cha!" marched from Jones Bridge to Liwasang Bonifacio. Reports said the group later lost themselves in the crowd of Partido ng Manggagawa and Sanlakas protesters. However, PMP Representative Renato Magtubo denied that the group was part of their demonstration. RIGHTS MONITORS Some 27 members of Commission on Human Rights were also deployed Monday to monitor the conduct of demonstrators and police personnel in line with the country’s celebration of the Labor Day. Lawyer Carmelita Rosete of CHR said were rounding the converging points of activist groups to make sure that the policemen comply with the rules set during rallies. “Tinitingnan din natin kung sila ba ay nagko-comply doon sa kanilang mga dapat gawin during rallies," she said. She, however, clarified they will not intervene with the negotiation as they were mere observers. The CHR personnel equipped with cameras and pen and papers to observe the celebration were wearing brown vests with CHR logo imprinted at the back. Rosete said they will be submitting a written report regarding their observation before the commission.-GMANews.TV