The umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said that the scheduled protest action in Ayala, Makati on Wednesday is the opening salvo in what is billed as a series of protests leading up to the State of the Nation Address of Mrs. Arroyo in July.
The Arroyo allies in the Lower House have stated that they plan to convene the Constituent Assembly to amend the constitution in July, after the SONA.
Bayan is gearing up for nationwide actions on June 10, working with various opposition and religious groups in the provinces and regions. Protest actions have so far been announced in Dagupan, Laguna, Bacolod and Iloilo.
“We call on freedom-loving Filipinos to go out and protest on June 10. Let us not be fooled into complacency by this regime. The threat of charter change and Arroyo staying in power is now more real than ever,” said Bayan chair Carol Araullo.
Araullo said that Malacanang’s denial that Arroyo will not seek office in 2010 is meaningless. “The statement comes from the mouth of a spokesperson, not the president herself. And if it does come from the president herself, we all know what happened the last time she said she would not run,” she said.
In December 2002, Arroyo declared that she would not be seeking the presidency in 2004. She eventually ran in the 2004 elections amid allegations of massive cheating.
“There will be no let up in protests. The SONA would be a major political battleground insofar as pushing the Con-Ass is concerned. We hope to mobilize what could be the biggest SONA protest in Arroyo’s eight years in office,” said Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr.
“The protests will be generally peaceful. We will not let the regime exploit any untoward incident that may happen. It is all the more necessary now that we protest in order to derail the Cha-cha train,” Reyes said. A dialogue with the Philippine National Police is scheduled today at 2pm to ensure the peaceful conduct of the protest actions.
Rally highlights
Rally organizers are calling on the people to prepare for possible rains and to bring umbrellas, jackets and raincoats.
The Ayala rally will feature a 15-minute interfaith service, a comedy skit between characters “Juana Change” and “Pacquito Yu”, the recitation of the Bagong Panatang Makabayan written by National Artist Bienvendio Lumbera, and a photo mosaic of the all congressmen who voted or supported House Resolution 1109. Senators have also been invited to attend the protest.
The rally program will be directed by multi-awarded film maker Carlitos Siguion Reyna. It will also feature performances by bands and stage personalities. The program is expected to be from 5pm to 8pm. ###
