Article posted March 01, 2008 - 10:49 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang is studying the speeches made by opposition personalities during Friday night's inter-faith rally in Makati City for possible seditious statements.
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez also admitted they went to National Police headquarters at Camp Crame Friday to monitor the rally because of information that it could turn into a "vigil."
"Ina-analyze pa natin yan (We're still analyzing the statements). I cannot make any statement in that direction," Gonzalez told dzRB radio when asked if they found the statements at the rally seditious.
Many of the speakers at the rally called on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to step down in the wake of corruption charges stemming from the $329.48-million ZTE broadband network deal mess.
President Arroyo and several government officials holed up at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame to monitor the progress of the rally, which ended peacefully.
The police and military earlier made a massive show of force, getting 5,000 augmentation forces from Luzon and guarding the Edsa Shrine in Mandaluyong City. For its part, the military's Metro Manila command brought in 11 armored vehicles to Camp Aguinaldo.
On the other hand, Gonzalez admitted they went there to monitor the situation because they had information the protesters planned to stay on beyond the 8 p.m. deadline given to them.
"There had been information that after 8 p.m. they will not leave, so we had to look at the situation carefully. There are some reports to that effect. As far as we are concerned, we'll see to it that it is not violent and the safety of the country will be properly safeguarded," he said.
Gonzalez also admitted that they are treading on dangerous grounds in revoking the pardon for former President Joseph Estrada, who took part in Friday's rally.
Estrada earlier joined calls for President Arroyo to resign her post.
"That is a problem that must be studied very, very carefully. It could create more problems that what it is already," Gonzalez said. - GMANews.TV
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