EDSA people power anniversary in Dumaguete,
Negros Oriental peaceful and quiet at city front
By Judy Flores-Partlow
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DUMAGUETE CITY, Feb. 25 (PNA) – The peace and quiet that prevailed here and in other parts of Negros Oriental during the 22nd EDSA People Power Revolution anniversary gives yet another glimpse of the true nature of the Oriental Negrense.
“The very peaceful commemoration (here) of the EDSA people power revolution of 1986 manifests the peace-loving nature of the people of Negros Oriental,” said Provincial Police Director P/Sr. Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe.
The police reported that so far, no untoward incident related to Monday’s nationwide observance of the popular revolution that toppled the Marcos dictatorship 22 years ago was reported in Negros Oriental.
Random checkpoints were held across the province as the police, while on a nationwide heightened alert security level, implemented a gun ban that is to stay in effect until March 3rd.
Various police stations across the province all sent radio messages to the provincial police headquarters at Camp Fernandez in Sibulan town, saying that there were no mass actions whatsoever held in their respective areas in relation to the people power anniversary.
The same was true even in Guihulngan City in the north, which is a hotbed of the insurgency problem, and where militant groups are said to be getting more active in their campaign against the government, said intelligence sources here.
In Dumaguete City, an attempt by a militant transport group to drum up support to their call for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to step down did not prosper, Buenafe said.
Only a handful of motorcabs-for-hire (MCHs), - the main form of public transport here – joined the Motor Piston-led motorcade around the city.
Buenafe said the activity did not stir public interest, adding it was not even related to the EDSA people power anniversary.
The transport group was, instead, calling for the truth behind the ZTE-NBN scandal to come out.
Meanwhile, Buenafe has assured that he and all the police personnel in Negros Oriental remain loyal to the Constitution.
Buenafe said that during a flag-raising activity Monday morning, he spoke to his men about the importance of the 1986 EDSA People Power revolution and how it had ushered in democracy to the country.
The provincial police director assured that his men are staying away from politics as they have other priorities instead, such as keeping the peace.
“We have better things to do as far as preserving the peace and order (in Negros Oriental) is concerned…we do not have time to be concerned with politics,” Buenafe stressed.
He assured that measures are in place to preempt possible moves by individuals or groups that may take advantage of the volatile situation in the country today due to the ongoing investigation on the botched ZTE-NBN deal. (PNA)
LAP/JFP
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Mon Feb 25, 2008 8:04 am