Militants to mount blockade of oil depots, refineries today By John Anthony Concepcion, Joel R. San Juan, Mirasol Ng-Gadil and Cesar T. Bilowan MILITANT groups yesterday said they will push through with their plan to barricade the petroleum depots in Pandacan, Manila today amid tight security precautions taken by the Western Police District (WPD) to prevent any untoward incident.

Malacaqang also ordered the police to demolish barricades to be put up by the protesters, headed by the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) and the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON) and Kontra Kartel.

WPD head Chief Supt Avelino Razon said he assigned l,000 policemen to Pandacan where about l,000 demonstrators are to converge as early as 7 a.m. today to protest the recent increases in oil prices.

Razon also told a radio interview that although the demonstrators have no permit, he nevertheless ordered his men to use maximum tolerance in dealing with them.

He added the policemen will also ensure the smooth flow of traffic in Pandacan where thousands of commuters are expected to be affected by the rally.

On the other hand, KMU chair Crispin Beltran claimed that police authorities are overreacting by fielding 1,000 lawmen to Pandacan.

He said the protest action will be militant but peaceful.

Any violence will surely come from the police forces, not from our side. Our intentions are to demonstrate peacefully and register our protests against the oil companies greedy and immoral profiteering in a militant fashion, Beltran said.

In Malacaqang, Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora cautioned militant groups against putting up barricades similar to what protest groups have done in Europe to dramatize their disapproval over rising oil prices.

Zamora said their plan will only do more harm than good.

He said barricading oil depots would only increase demand for petroleum products and would not help reduce oil prices.

Prices will even increase further if you barricade oil depots. If you choke off supply, the demand will increase. You are just creating a black market for oil products, Zamora said in a radio interview.

Zamora emphasized the government would not allow barricades to be set up, especially if they pose a threat to peace and order.

We will not allow any move of that kind. Any blockade will be removed, he said.

Another militant group, Sanlakas, said it will hold a protest action at 11 a.m. today in front of the head offices of Shell, Petron and Caltex in Makati City. The group will assemble at the Insular Life Building along Ayala Avenue. Sanlakas members will bring with them a mural (ABU-SADO) that compares the three oil companies to the Abu Sayyaf terrorists for making the Filipino people their helpless hostage.(

http://www.manilatimes.net/2000/sep/15/top_stories/20000915top2.html

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), September 15, 2000