‘Sympathy march’ permits revoked at the last minute
DASMARINAS CITY–A group of ten runners and a couple of cyclists were joined by the families of the slain Special Action Force (SAF) troopers after an almost six-hour run and walk from this city in Cavite to Camp Crame, the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Quezon City.
The march billed as “Walk with the Widows, Run for our Heroes” pushed through Sunday despite the revocation of the permits earlier issued by the Metro Manila Development Authority and a permit to assemble at Camp Crame, said Chuck Crisanto, executive director of the Lakan Foundation.
Lakan Foundation is a non-government organization of the Philippine National Police Academy Alumni Association Inc.
“Just last night,” Crisanto said of the revoked permits. “We don’t know why?”
Earlier, the Quezon City government also revoked the permit it had issued the group to hold a Mass at the Memorial Circle.
No placards
Led by activist priest Robert Reyes, the group left Central Mall, here, at around 1:30 a.m. They did not carry any political placard or streamer, as Reyes had earlier said that the march was not a move to push President Benigno Aquino III out of his office.
Some in the group of runners were civilians but many were active members of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP). They wore their white shirt marked with the BJMP initials.
“It’s (an activity of the) tri-bureau (PNP, BJMP, Bureau of Fire),” Crisanto said.
Militants
The runners only had to slow their pace at some points en route to Quezon City, but went on without any stop-over.
Upon reaching the boundary of Bacoor City in Cavite and Las Piṅas City, a handful of activists greeted them with a placard that read: “Ano ang inabot ng matuwid na daan? Masaker! Demosliyon! Kahirapan! (where did the straight path led us to? Massacre! Demolition! Poverty!)
“Matuwid na daan” is the campaign slogan of President Benigno Aquino III when he ran for office in 2010.
“We call for truth justice and accountability. These men’s lives have been sacrificed in order for Aquino to fulfill the US orders to kill Marwan and Usman,” said Aries Soledad of the group called Cavite Walk for Peace. The gesture, he said, was meant to show support to the PNP’s sympathy march.
‘Pusong Pulis’
All throughout the run, a police Highway Patrol Group car, a BJMP service vehicle, and some other private vehicles tailed the runners.
Another vehicle also carried speakers that repeatedly played out “Pusong Pulis,” a version of the popular “Pusong Bato” that went viral on the internet.
A part of the song’s lyrics read:”’di n’yo alam dahil sa inyo, dangal ko’y ihahain. Buhay ko’y i-aalay, ito ang aking tungkulin.”
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