The police in Dumaguete and Negros Oriental are girding up to ensure a peaceful and orderly celebration of Labor Day today, even as militant group Bayan-Negros said it will stage a multisectoral rally in Guijulngan City to criticize massive militarization, political repression and wage and labor issues.

Senior Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe, Negros Oriental Provincial Police Director, said they are now closely monitoring areas where labor and other groups are expected to convene to air their sentiments through street marches and rallies.

Upland peasants and sugar workers said that amid threats and harassments they will push through with their anti-militarization rally in Guihulngan.

Organizers said they are expecting confrontations along the way through checkpoints and barricades as they march from their hinterlands communities to the center of the town.

In a statement, Bayan said that they have been receiving reports of harassments and threats to leaders and members of KAUGMAON from the RSOT and soldiers belonging to 1st Scout Ranger Battalion and 11th Infantry Battalion operating in the hinterlands of Guihulngan. It said these groups are preventing the KAUGMAON members from joining the rally.

Buenafe stressed that while people have a right to a peaceful assembly and freedom of speech, it is the responsibility of the police to also ensure that security measures are undertaken to avoid violence and other untoward incidents.

The newly-formed Civil Disturbance Management unit will be deployed in areas only when needed, Buenafe added.

He also said that aside from Dumaguete, the police are also closely watching Guihulngan.

The military and the police have tagged Guihulngan among the areas affected by the insurgency problem.

Dumaguete police chief Leopoldo Cabanag said he will deploy uniformed police and intelligence operatives to areas in the city where assemblies are expected.

Cabanag said they will strictly enforce the "no permit, no rally" policy. As of late yesterday, some groups had already reportedly obtained a permit from City Hall, he said.

The places to be under close watch are the usual rally venues and assembly areas like Rizal Boulevard, Quezon Park and Freedom Park, he said.

The Philippine National Police has been placed on nationwide red alert in time for the celebration of Labor Day today.

Bayan-Negros, however, said that instead of providing food at the table, increasing the wages of the laborers, and providing relief to the hungry people of Negros who suffer from rising prices of goods and commodities,  the Arroyo government is suppressing the rights of the people and choosing militarization.*JG

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