Rep. Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo Jr. (Neg. Occ., 5th district) yesterday said he is prepared to make representations to have Malacañang address the concerns of Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra.

Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra led a prayer rally at the Bacolod public plaza Wednesday to say "never again" to martial law and a state of emergency, and to mourn "the death of democratic rights".

At the rally, the bishop also read a pastoral letter saying his concerns on the dismissed illegal logging case in Don Salvador Benedicto and the Supreme Court's suspension of human right lawyer Francisco Cruz from the practice of law have not been addressed.

"Why have the legitimate clamors and legal complaints of intelligent and well-intentioned, concerned citizens as well as rightful stakeholders - all fallen on deaf ears of the President, of the Department of Justice, even the Supreme Court - so it seems?" the bishop asked.

The bishop had raised these concerns with the President during her visit to Bacolod for the Southeast Asian Games in November.

The presidential-brother-in law said if the bishop is willing he can make representations so someone from Malacañang can meet with him to hear his concerns.

Gov. Joseph Marañon yesterday said the failure of organizers of Wednesday's prayer rally to gather their targeted 20,000 crowd is an indication that people are tired or rallies.

The rally organized by the Diocese of Bacolod drew a crowd estimated by organizers at 8,000 but the Bacolod police said the figure was lower.

Marañon said it was good that the people were able to air their sentiments but people should move forward instead of blaming each other and arguing as that will not bring progress to the nation.

"We should unite and work together so that we can focus on development programs," he said.

"The same people who called for then President Joseph Estrada to step down are calling for Arroyo to resign. What assurance do we have that they won't do that to the next leader of the country?" the governor asked.

Rep. Arroyo said the crowd at the rally Wednesday was not representative of the entire Negros Occidental population, in fact, he said, the size shows that "Negrense still love the president".*CPG

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