FDC-Iloilo condemns ICPO harassment, arrests during Dinagyang

Press Statement
Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) – Iloilo
Contact Person:
Ted Aldwin Ong, Secretary-General @ 0915-7747413
Telefax: 509-0051, Email: fdciloilo@gmail.com / ted.fdciloilo@gmail.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
28 January 2008

FDC-Iloilo condemns ICPO harassment, arrests during Dinagyang

The Freedom from Debt Coalition condemns the arrests effected by the personnel of the Iloilo City Police Office under the command of Major Conrad Carganillo to five (5) of our members and the harassment and intimidation of our members by his team at the height of the Dinagyang mardi gras festival Sunday afternoon, January 27.

The organizations under FDC has been joining the Dinagyang festival for the last 10 years with the “Worker’s Tribe” to celebrate the festivity by bringing our calls and demands and campaigns and advocacy to the fore of the Ilonggo public in order to raise the public’s awareness on issues that has significant impact to their lives as citizens and taxpayers.

This year we hoisted the call to STOP TOXIC WASTES TRADE! JUNK JPEPA! JUNK SEN. MAR ROXAS!

We believe Sen. Roxas is betraying the Filipino people by pushing for the ratification of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA). Facts reveal that no less than Sen. Roxas have expressed concerns that the Philippines has minimal inherent gains in the JPEPA yet still he is aggressively pushing for the ratification of the Treaty.

Likewise, we believe that JPEPA violates the right of Filipino workers, thus anti-workers, and will give way for the entry of Japan’s toxic wastes to Philippine shores. As we have filed our petition before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, we believe that it is our duty to as a campaigns organization to inform the public on the grave impact to the Filipino people once we permit this Treaty to be ratified.

The Dinagyang mardi gras is one such opportunity. By all accounts, the members of FDC were peacefully parading bringing streamers, Chinese banners and flags in front of the symbolic Freedom Grandstand together with other groups when Maj. Carganillo singled-out FDC, approached its members and demanded for a copy of a parade permit. A requirement that is unnecessary during the mardi gra.

Further. Maj. Carganillo demanded that we put down our streamers and banners if we wish to continue with the parade – a request that our group granted.

However, as the group was already moving around a block away, the mobile patrols of the Iloilo City Police Office blocked our way with Maj. Carganillo effecting forceful arrests to our members, whisking them to Police Precinct 1 for negotiation citing we violated the agreement – a claim that is clearly a fabrication.

Since no formal complaint was leveled against FDC members, we assert that it was a violation of our basic human rights and of our rights to free expression. We criticize the higher authority of the local PNP by tolerating its officers’ acts of harassment and intimidation towards the members of FDC. This is clearly an abuse of power by the local police.

Lastly, we deplore Maj. Carganillo and what he revealed as a high profile politician behind the orders that FDC be taken out of the streets on grounds that our slogans are embarrassing to politicians and tourists.

We believe that the harassment, intimidation, sabotage and abuse of authority by the local police and by stifling the voices of the people is more than just embarrassing, it is stupid and condemnable. ###