US embassy cable - 05MANILA4934

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 004934 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, INR/EAP, DRL/CRA, DS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PINS, PINR, ASEC, RP 
SUBJECT: DISPERSAL OF OPPOSITION RALLY SPARKS DEBATE OVER 
ARROYO ADMINISTRATION TACTICS 
 
REF: MANILA 4875 
 
Classified By: Acting Pol/C Joseph L. Novak for 
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) Summary:  The October 14 dispersal of a small 
Opposition rally has sparked a sharp debate over the GRP's 
tactics.  The Opposition and many in the media have 
criticized the police, asserting that the use of water 
cannons was not appropriate, for example.  Malacanang -- 
while not endorsing the specific tactics used on October 14 
-- has defended its policy of "calibrated response" to 
rallies, asserting that protests need municipal permits 
(which the October 14 demonstration did not have).  While 
Malacanang's desire to keep rallies within limits is 
understandable (many in the public see the constant stream of 
protests as an annoyance), the Opposition may be earning some 
points by making it seem that it is the victim of hard-line 
tactics.  End Summary. 
 
--------------------------------- 
Police Disperse Anti-Arroyo Rally 
--------------------------------- 
 
2.  (U) The October 14 dispersal of a small rally near 
Malacanang has sparked a heated debate over the Arroyo's 
administration's tactics vis-a-vis Opposition activities. 
Members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) using water 
cannons dispersed the small anti-government rally at the 
Mendiola Bridge, a traditional anti-government protest venue 
in the vicinity of Malacanang Palace in Manila. 
Approximately 500-600 participants had converged earlier on 
Plaza Miranda (another well-known protest site) to denounce 
President Arroyo and demand her resignation.  Key figures at 
the rally included former vice president Teofisto Guingona, 
Senator Jamby A.S. Madrigal, leftist party-list 
Representatives Satur Ocampo and Rissa Hontiveros Baraquiel, 
and TV personality Oscar Orbos.  They were joined by 
left-leaning Catholic Bishops Julio Labayen, Antonio Tobias, 
Deogracias Iniguez, and a clutch of radical priests and nuns 
from the "pro-poor," anti-Arroyo Kilusang Makabayang 
Economiya ("Movement for a Nationalist Economy") group.  The 
controversial incident took place when rally participants 
tried the obligatory "march on Malacanang." 
 
3.  (U) When questioned about the incident, the PNP asserted 
that the group of protesters tried to break through a police 
cordon to march on the Mendiola Bridge, an area that has 
recently been designated as a "no-protest" zone by municipal 
authorities (due to its accessibility to Malacanang).  After 
heated verbal exchanges and minor scuffles, police said they 
had to disperse the group with high pressure water cannons 
and ordinary fire hoses.  Defending its tactics, the PNP 
noted that no serious injuries were reported and no arrests 
were made.  (Note:  The PNP announced on October 18, however, 
that it planned to file charges against Guingona, Madrigal, 
and Orbos for violating the Public Assembly Act, which 
prohibits holding a rally without a permit.  End Note.) 
 
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Opposition Denounces Malacanang Tactics 
--------------------------------------- 
 
4.  (U) The Opposition and many in the media have criticized 
the police reaction to the rally, asserting that the use of 
water cannons was not appropriate and that the crowd should 
have been allowed to march.  Newspapers and telecasts, for 
example, were full of reports on the rally, showing drenched 
participants and minor scuffles.  Press commentators, in both 
pro-Arroyo and Opposition-leaning newspapers, criticized the 
PNP's actions, as well as Malacanang's policy on 
demonstrations (see below).  At an Opposition press 
conference held October 16, rally participants denounced the 
police action as "a violent" curtailment of the right to 
freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and -- citing the 
fact that several in the clergy had been effected -- said it 
was a matter of "disrespect" to faith and religion.  They 
disclosed their plan to file administrative and criminal 
charges against the PNP.  They also threatened to bring their 
case to the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR), claiming 
that the incident amounted to "a clear violation of human 
rights." 
 
5. (SBU) Malacanang and the police also took some flak from 
an influential source:  Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, who is 
slated to succeed Archbishop Fernando Capalla as head of the 
Catholic Bishop's Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on 
December 1, said the incident was "uncalled for and 
objectionable."  Lagdameo's comments were noteworthy to the 
extent that he is an influential prelate and generally 
considered apolitical.  Capalla (who is generally considered 
to be close to the Administration) was quoted from Rome as 
stating that the whole matter was not a CBCP affair. 
 
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Malacanang Defends Its Policies 
------------------------------- 
 
6.  (U) Malacanang -- while not endorsing the specific police 
tactics used on October 14 -- has defended its "Calibrated 
Preemptive Response" policy, known widely by the acronym 
"CPR," in regard to rallies.  (Note:  The CPR policy was 
announced on September 21.  It basically requires that 
municipalities enforce strictly the requirements that 
protests be staged only in designated areas and with 
government permits.  Police may use "reasonable force" to 
disperse any unauthorized rallies, according to the policy. 
End Note.)  Malacanang officials said that CPR is necessary 
to protect the public from Opposition attempts "to turn the 
streets to chaos" via "uncontrolled" rallies and marches 
Officials added that the October 14 incident -- while 
"unfortunate" -- had not change its mind about forcefully 
dealing with "unpermitted" rallies.  For its part, PNP Chief 
Arturo Lomibao said his organization took responsibility for 
the incident, saying it was a "judgment call" for the 
commander on the scene to use high pressure water to break up 
the rally.  An internal PNP investigation of the incident 
cleared all officers involved, saying their actions were 
justified. 
 
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Comment 
------- 
 
7.  (C) Malacanang's desire to keep rallies within limits is 
understandable -- many of the Opposition's public events in 
recent months have disrupted traffic and impacted negatively 
on business activities.  For example, in the business center 
of Makati where the mayor is pro-Opposition, there have been 
a string of rallies in recent months that have tied up 
commuter traffic for hours.  Despite the annoyance that 
rallies cause, however, the Opposition may be earning some 
points with the public by making it seem that it is the 
victim of hard-line tactics -- a view that the media has 
generally been sympathetic to.  Malacanang has also been seen 
as coming on too strong thanks to recent comments by some GRP 
officials to the effect that plans to impose "emergency rule" 
are being studied, though sheerly on a contingency basis (ref 
A). 
 
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