The police in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City went on heightened alert  starting Saturday in preparation for an expected  massive rally at the Bacolod public plaza this afternoon to call for the truth  amid revelations of corruption involving high-ranking  government officials.

In Metro Manila anti-coup units have been fielded with protests also set there today as the nation marks the  22nd anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolt.

So far everything is peaceful but we want to make sure some  elements do not take advantage of the situation, Senior Supt. Ronilo Quebrar, Bacolod police director, said.

A PNP 612 Mobile Group is on standby to assist the Bacolod police if needed, Senior Supt.  Rosendo Franco, Negros Occidental police director, said.

Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra yesterday reiterated his call for  the people to join today’s rally at the Bacolod Public Plaza spearheaded by the   United Negrenses Yearning for the Truth.

We offer our fervent prayers to the Lord that this activity will really lead to making the truth come out, he said.

We also pray that safety and peace will dominate this activity, he said.

The assembly points for today’s march-rally that will kick off at 1 p.m.  will be the Capitol Lagoon Park, the Villamonte Rotonda, Lupit Church  and City Heights, Fr. Aniceto Buenafe, Social Action Center director of the Diocese of Bacolod, said.

The main speaker at the rally with the theme “Seek the truth, rise up against corruption, redeem our nation” at the Bacolod public plaza will be human rights lawyer Neri Colmenares, while  Navarra will deliver the response, Buenafe said.

The rally is being  held to air further support for Rodolfo Lozada, Senate witness in the controversial National Broadband Network deal,   and to call on former National Economic and Development Authority chief Romulo Neri to come out and speak the truth, he said.

      Bayan-Negros said  it will hold a protest at the Rizal Park in Bacolod at 10 a.m. today  to call for the ouster of President Gloria Arroyo and will join the UNYT led rally in the afternoon.

        The Citizens Network for Good Governance-Negros, through its executive  director Maximino Cordero, yesterday also issued a statement calling for accountability and the pursuit of truth.

The group said it totally supports Lozada whose testimony opened a Pandora’s Box of multifarious deals and secrets involving astronomical “commissions” given to government officials.

“We support the Senate’s continued pursuit of the truth behind the NBN project.  Those who had broken the law, no matter how high up the ladder, must be made to account for their transgressions,” the statement said.

“The long term political stability and economic prosperity of our country will only be possible if we have leaders with integrity and institutions that protect and uphold the public trust.  We can not continue to console ourselves with the strength of the peso as a result of external factors and the mirage of inequitable growth,” the statement said.*CPG

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