EDSA 3 leader: No plan to riot, destabilize

No plan to riot or destabilize, or anything close to a repeat of so-called EDSA 3 over six years ago. This was the assurance given Tuesday by a key supporter of former President Joseph Estrada, as he scored the military for drawing up scenarios now that the Sandiganbayan is set to render its verdict on Estrada's P4.1-billion plunder case. "We have no plans of rioting or destabilizing. We believe the graft court will decide on the merits of the case," Ronald Lumbao, chairman of the People's Movement Against Poverty (PMAP), said in Filipino on Iglesia ni Cristo-run dzEC radio. Lumbao and PMAP led a failed violent siege on Malacañang on May 1, 2001, after a week of holding rallies along EDSA to protest Estrada's arrest for plunder. Lumbao and his colleagues ran for a party-list seat in Congress last May but failed to get the needed votes. As this developed, Lumbao scored Metro Manila military commander Major Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino and Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez for allegedly drawing up falsely premised "scenarios." Lumbao particularly referred to claims by Gonzalez that Estrada's supporters are now trying to recruit soldiers for another destabilization attempt. He also belied claims that they are now planning to stage riots and similar activities if the Sandiganbayan were to declare Estrada guilty. "If the supposed authorities already pass judgment on something that has yet to happen, I don't think it's good for our democracy," he said. - GMANews.TV