RP definitely divided - solon
BY CARLA GOMEZ

“Definitely the country is divided,” Rep. Ignacio Arroyo Jr. (Neg. Occ., 5th district) said yesterday.

While anti-Arroyo rallies were staged yesterday in outrage over the alleged anomalous ZTE-National Broadband Network deal, the president’s brother in-law said there were also pro-government rallies being held in other parts of the country.

He said while the Church-led protestors are calling for the truth, the government has been airing its side..

CPG photo

Rodolfo Parreño, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Negros Occidental chapter, human rights lawyer Neri Colmenares, Bishop Vicente Navarra and Fr. Felix Pasquin  (l-r) march to the Bacolod public plaza yesterday*

Thousands of Negrenses marched into the Bacolod public plaza demanding the truth from government on allegations of corruption, with others going a step further by calling for the ouster of the President, amid the tolling of church bells yesterday afternoon.

More snowballing of this people’s communal actions is the best way to draw out the truth from the President, Neri Colmenares, lawyer of Senate witness Rodolfo Lozada, who spoke at the rally, said.

“GMA (Gloria Macapagal Arroyo) does not listen to institutions, like the Supreme Court or the Senate, but the people will force her to listen, I am sure of that,” he said.

Army Lt. Gen. Victor Ibrado yesterday joined military and police top brass in pledging anew their loyalty to the chain of command and their commander-in-chief, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is now under fire for allegations of corruption in her administration.

Ibrado, commanding general of the AFP Central Command in Visayas, joined the “unity march” yesterday from the People Power monument along EDSA to the Camp Aguinaldo Golf Club in Quezon, which was headed by AFP chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon and PNP chief Avelino Razon.

CentCom supervises two Army infantry divisions – 3rd and 8th IDs – Air Force and Navy units operating in Visayas.