Calling Manila Mayor Lito Atienza's bluff

Ayaw raw bigyan ng office ni pro-Arroyo Manila mayor Lito Atienza ng rally permits ang mga anti-GMA protesters dahil magkaka-buhol-buhol lang rang ang trapiko kung pinayagan silang mag-rally sa kalsada.

And Arroyo's police chief agrees:

Director General Arturo Lomibao of the Philippine National Police said protest actions on streets, especially on major thoroughfares where traffic could be impeded, would no longer be allowed.

Bawal dito, bawal doon.

Okay, kung ganyan ang excuse nyo, then I suggest to those protesters na humingi sila ng rally permit sa may recently converted pedestrian area (from Recto to Carriedo) sa Rizal Avenue. That's the place where you can see many billboards of Lito Atienza's face with a message saying na "regalo" raw niya proyekto na ito sa masang Pilipino or Manilenos (something like that.) :lol:

Malaki at maluwag ang space doon (lalo na sa may Arsenio Lacson monument) at bawal ang mga kotse na dumaan kaya hindi nyo na pwedeng gamitin yung "traffic" excuse para hindi bigyan ng rally permits ang mga protesters.

And the place is near enough to Malacanang para ma-satisfy ang mga rally organizers.

Besides, balita ko madalas magbigay ng mga "free mini-concerts" at "mini-shows" si Mayor Atienza sa lugar na ito, so I don't see any reason kung bakit hindi nya rin pwedeng bigyan ng permit ang mga rallyista na mag-assemble sa napaka-lawak na lugar na yan sa Rizal Avenue.

Pero kung pati dito ay ayaw pa rin payagan ng Manila mayor's office na mag-rally ang protesters, then you have to wonder if Atienza and the PNP are just using the "traffic" excuse para tuluyang pagbawalan na ang anumang klaseng protesta laban kay Mrs. Arroyo.

UPDATE: From Lito Atienza:

"From the start, the city government of Manila has maintained that protesters must first notify us to coordinate their activities with the police and protect the interest of the majority," Atienza said in a phone interview.

The Manila mayor explained that the coordination would prevent the disruption of traffic and ensure the security of the rally participants.

Uh-huh:

Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes said they filed for a permit to hold a rally with the city government of Manila on September 27, but they have not heard from the office of Manila Mayor Lito Atienza despite follow-up calls.

"This only shows that even if you apply for a permit to hold a rally, wala ring kuwenta kasi hindi pinapansin," Reyes said.

Sabi pa ni Lito Atienza:

"We cannot take risks because the government would be blamed if something happened to these protesters, considering the possible presence of terrorists during these activities," Atienza said. "We cannot allow anarchy to prevail, especially when it affects workers, students, and other residents who do not wish to participate in the rally."

Didn't see any terrorists here. The only people terrorizing others there are Arroyo's thuggish police.