Lawyers’ victory for the people
Perspective
Visayan Daily Star
Rowena Guanzon
4 March 2006
More than 500 lawyers and law students marched from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines building to the EDSA shrine this morning, in what can be the biggest mass action of lawyers against Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. If the Garci tapes did not unite the lawyers of all ages and from diverse political groups, Proclamation 1017 did it in one sweep. You name it, they were there – Jojo Binay, Butch Abad,Dean Pacifico Agabin of Lyceum College of Law, Dean Andy Bautista of FEU Law, Integrated Bar of the Philippines officers, Vicky Loanzon IBP President of Quezon City, Teofisto Guingona, Ernie Maceda, Jojo Binay, Rene Saguisag, lawyers from the Alternative Law Groups, Saligan, Akbayan, professors and students from other colleges of law. Some lawyers even brought their clients along.
We walked from the IBP Headquarters in Julia Vargas Street to the Edsa Shrine, marching on EDSA beside Megamall without any obstacle. My friends Professor Rowe Morales of U.P. and Prof. Vicky Victoria of San Beda Law and I decided to walk beside the UP College of Law students to protect them from arrests. While we were chanting “ Proclamation 017, ibasura!” while walking, bus drivers sympathized by honking their horns.
The police with shields barricaded the shrine. As good lawyers, our leaders negotiated pro forma. Then the pushing began, as the lawyers and other activists pushed their way in while the police tried to hold their ground with their shields. They had no truncheons nor guns, just shields. Jojo Binay was fuming mad as the police stopped him with their shields, and he kept pushing, his bodyguards around him. Saguisag looked like a bull who saw red. I saw Renato Constantino Jr. fall and angrily get up, and a young woman screamed and grabbed a shield and threw it on the ground. I saw others pushing the left flank and at the center, but the right flank was open. Then I ran.
When I ran to the right side, my friends from Gabriela shouted that I should go with someone, so I pulled Ana Cristal, Secretary General of Lawnet, to cross the barricade. Ana, in pearls, black suit and high heels, crossed without any challenge. But a single policeman blocked me with his shield. This is where chutzpah comes in. I shouted at him, “ be careful, I am a professor in the National Police College!” The man was stunned ( I don’t think they are quite used to English speaking rallyists) and then a lawyer behind him grabbed the shield and threw it on the ground. I walked up the stairs of the shrine and into the open space as an officer came half running. And then I saw that it was my former Chief of Police when I was Mayor of Cadiz, now Colonel Romeo Abaring, calling, “maam!.” Instead of thanking him which I should have done, I said, “ ano ba yan, Abaring.” If you see him, please tell him that I do appreciate what he has done. He probably thought I was in danger from one young policeman who was about my height, who obviously looked scared that he would have to push me back if I didn’t stop. Well I was not going to stop, and it was a blessing that he stood there, immobilized, until someone grabbed his shield and solved his problem.
The police barricade now broken, the others conquered the shrine without any challenge, and the police had to form their line at the back. There were more than 500 of us, and only about 60 policemen. Someone announced that a policeman lost his radio and could someone please return it if it is found because it is government property. Col. Abaring approached me to ask how many minutes would our program be and I introduced him to Atty. Joel Cadiz, the IBP President. Our program lasted more than 30 minutes, but the police, now relaxed, stood on the side, looking relieved that they didn’t have to wrestle with the English speaking, fierce looking, dignified looking lawyers, men and women all. Half of the rallyists were in court attire, in barong or suits. Ana Cristal said that the police was mesmerized by her South Sea pearls so she was able to cross the barricade unchallenged.
Before our program was finished GMA had lifted Proclamation. Ending the program with the song “Bayan ko,” the lawyers fell in line and trooped back to the IBP building, taking the street along Robinson’s Galleria. Atty. Sandy Colonel, whose husband is the PNP Provincial Director of Iloilo, went to the police line and said thank you to the commanding officer, but Col. Abaring was nowhere.
Lawyers have reclaimed EDSA Shrine for the people. Whether or not GMA lifted her Proclamation 1017, civil disobedience will continue. Even as I write, students and professors of the University of the Philippines are rallying behind the Oblation, condemning GMA and demanding her resignation.
On March 8, the women from all political groups will unite to celebrate International Women’s Day. Having had practice in the art of intimidating police officers with pearls and the English language, women lawyers and their clients are all set and ready to go.
