Photo by Ryan Y. Racca
MILITANT ORGANIZATIONS protested as President Benigno Aquino III delivered his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 23.
Brought together by their shared indignation toward Aquino’s allegedly empty promises and apathy for the poor, protesters marched along Commonwealth Avenue as they clamored for greater respect for human rights and against increasing privatization under the current administration.
Sentiments along Commonwealth
Among the activist groups, the Confederation and Unity for Reform and Advancement of Government Employees pressed for a P6000 across-the-board wage increase and criticized the privatization of water systems in local areas.
“Kasi kapag naging private ‘yan, negosyo na, hindi [na] serbisyo. Tapos palaging mag-i-increase [ng singil]. Gusto nila kahit anong araw pwede mag-increase, ‘di kagaya [kapag hawak ng] government mayroon pa iyang proseso. (If they privatize these water systems, it becomes more of a business than a service. They can increase the price whenever they want. But if it is government-run, it will still undergo a process,” said a protester who only identified himself as Cesar, a government-employed tap operator from Calamba, Laguna.
Meanwhile, Gabriela Women’s Party was also present in the rally. According to Gabriela Valenzuela Chapter president Josefina Macaling, they raised concerns about disrespect for women’s rights and the privatization of medical laboratories.
Aquino stressed in his SONA that the government is on its way to improve the country’s health programs, which includes more accessible PhilHealth benefits.
Katribu Partylist also joined the demonstrations, voicing out concerns about the plight of indigenous peoples. A member who only introduced himself as Tyron emphasized that the Aquino administration needs to pass laws that will protect their rights.
“Sa ngayon ay wala pa siyang ginagawa at mukhang ‘di na rin kami umaasa na may gagawin pa siya. (Right now, he hasn’t done anything and we have somewhat lost hope that he will),” he said.
Residents of Silverio Compound in Parañaque, where one incident between the police and the compound’s residents led to the death of one teenager last April, also joined the rally.
“Daang matuwid” in question
Leaders of the militant groups remarked that the Aquino government has not truly trudged the straight path or “matuwid na daan.”
Kampanya Para sa Makataong Pamumuhay coordinator Wilson Fortaleza delivered a speech to the crowd. “Hindi ako makikipagtalo kay PNoy sa sinasabi niya na ang tinatahak niya ay tuwid na daan dahil walang Pilipinong ayaw sa isang tuwid na pamamahala. Pero makikipagtalo ang sambayanang Pilipino kay PNoy dahil sinasabi niya na kasama sa pag-unlad ng ating ekonomiya ay ang pag-unlad ng buhay ng masa, sapagkat iyan po ay hindi totoo! (I won’t argue with PNoy’s promise of trudging the straight path because no Filipino would detest a just government. But the Filipino people will argue with him because he claims that the progress in the economy is also improving the lives of the masses, which is in fact not true!)” he said.
National democratic activists burned a gigantic two-faced effigy of Aquino, with one half depicting a public servant and the other half a powerful monster.
On highest alert, the Philippine National Police barricaded the Batasan area to block the groups from marching on.
Editor’s Note: Beyond Loyola will release a special report on the SONA in the August print issue of The GUIDON.
