The police has been negotiating with the protesters to clear the road and allow vehicles to pass through
BLOCKED. Protesters demand a pullout by military troops on March 18. Photo by Editha Caduaya/Rappler
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Gridlock.
The Davao City Davao-Agusan Highway was locked in traffic for more than 5 hours as of mid-afternoon Friday, March 18, leaving commuters stranded.
Militant groups and Lumad protesters from nearby provinces held a lighting rally at the main entrance of the Eastern Mindanao Command in Panacan, Davao City starting at 8:30 this morning.
Stranded vehicles and commuters amounted to thousands on the highway connecting the north- and south-bound vehicles.
Davao City Police Office Spokesperson Chief Insp. Milgrace Driz said that the police chief assigned to the area had been negotiating with the protesters to peacefully dismantle their barricade and allow the vehicles to pass through.
Driz told Rappler, “We are still negotiating until now.” City Administrator Melchor Quitain and Kerlan Paragel of Pasaka talked; Quitain tried to negotiate but failed.
Driz estimated the number of protesters to reach 2,000, coming mostly from as far as Agusan del Sur and Davao del Sur.
Militant groups Bayan and Pasaka led the protesters who were shouting for the pullout of military troops in their areas. The protesters blocked the Davao-Agusan highway and refused to leave their post as of this writing.
Sasa Police Station Commander PSI Merlito Tubag tried talking to the protesters to clear the road but they were adamant.
An alternate road was the Cabantian Road in Buhangin but the sudden increase in volume of vehicles passing the road caused traffic to build up.
In a statement, the Eastern Mindanao Command (EMC) said they “welcome and strongly support investigations” on the allegations and that they are willing to provide the needed assistance to investigating bodies “in accordance and adherence to the rule of law”.
“The EMC will continue to be a partner in maintaining and sustaining gains of all our peace and security efforts,” EastMinCom said.
http://www.rappler.com/nation/126299-protesters-block-davao-agusan-highway
This is Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) front group anti-military protest activity. The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN-New Patriotic Alliance) is the main CPP multisectoral, umbrella front organization in the Philippines with chapters active throughout the country. While the Pasakkaday Salugpongan Kalimuddan (PASAKA-Confederation of Lumad Organizations) is a communist front focused on the rights/interests of indigenous people.
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