The declaration of a state of national emergency has not stopped militant groups in Negros Occidental from continuing to call for President Gloria Arroyo's resignation.

At a rally in front of the Bacolod City Hall Saturday, Laban ng Masa protestors denounced Proclamation No. 1017 and slammed the continued warrantless arrests and dispersal of rallies, which they called clear violations of the Constitution.

Members of the Laban ng Masa-Negros, composed of the Alab Katipunan, Sanlakas, Akbayan, Partidong Manggagawa and other groups also marched through major streets of the city calling for Arroyo's immediate removal.

"The Gloria declaration of Proclamation 1017 will only worsen political dissent. She might take advantage of the situation to further sweep the crisis hounding her under the rug, when what the whole situation demands is for her to avoid violence and bloodshed by stepping down now," an LM statement said.

Sanlakas said the state of national emergency will not force militant groups to go underground. "We will assert our hard-won right to peaceful assembly and free speech," it said.

The Partido ng Manggagawa said the state of emergency declared by Arroyo gave her "a blank check for an illegitimate regime to suppress the people's right to peaceful assembly."

Meanwhile, Felipe Levy Gelle, secretary general of Bayan Negros, said "We believe Proclamation 1017 is a declaration of martial law despite denials. Part of this is a crackdown on the opposition and Arroyo's critics. People are condemning her orders, even her allies."

The president is "becoming like Marcos, so desperate to cling to power that she is resorting to more repressive political measures and tactics," he said.*DMG

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