Apec security tagged ‘overkill’ by militants
ILOILO CITY—Militant groups have decried as “overkill” security measures being implemented for meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec).
George Calaor, chair of the Aklan chapter of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, said he suffered abrasions on the arm and elbow after he was pushed by antiriot policemen who pushed back at least 100 anti-Apec protesters in the capital town of Kalibo on Sunday.
The protesters, who positioned themselves near the Kalibo-Numancia Bridge, were met by at least 150 policemen with truncheons, shields and protective gear. A fire truck from the local government was also deployed.
The protesters dispersed peacefully on Sunday but Calaor accused the police contingent of deliberately blocking the protesters’ path to prevent Apec delegates passing the bridge from seeing the rally.
“They do no want us to expose the failure of our government to effectively and adequately provide assistance to survivors of [Supertyphoon] ‘Yolanda’ even as it is spending millions of pesos in hosting the Apec,” Calaor said.
Aklan province is among the worst hit by Yolanda, which devastated mostly Visayas areas on Nov. 8, 2013.
But the Philippine National Police denied the allegations.
“They were obstructing traffic. We merely asked them to move,” said Insp. Shella Mae Acanto-Sangrines, regional police spokesperson for the Apec meetings in Western Visayas.
She said there was no plan to disperse the protesters or cover them from view.
“We respect their rights to peacefully assemble and protest and we exercised maximum tolerance,” she said.
At least 2,000 policemen have been deployed to Boracay and Kalibo for the Apec ministerial and other meetings.
In Bacolod City, an umbrella group of underground organizations, including the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing New People’s Army, denounced the Apec conference, claiming it would fortify the control of economic, political and military powers of rich countries. With a report from Carla P. Gomez, Inquirer Visayas
