The protest, of about 30,000 people, was, as expected, a colorful one. But following last years violent attempt by cops to disperse protesters asserting right to get near Batasan Pambansa during #SONA2013, this year’s march evoked an air of urgency: they now call on the immediate ouster of Pres. Benigno Aquino III from office. This, […]
The protest, of about 30,000 people, was, as expected, a colorful one. But following last years violent attempt by cops to disperse protesters asserting right to get near Batasan Pambansa during #SONA2013, this year’s march evoked an air of urgency: they now call on the immediate ouster of Pres. Benigno Aquino III from office. This, following a series of expositions on the involvement of congresspeople, senators, cabinet officials and close Palace allies in the pork barrel scam, purportedly masterminded by Janet Lim-Napoles.
But the biggest scandal involved the president himself, to the tune of P177 Billion in the unconstitutional Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP). Almost a month after the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional that which has been called the president’s own pork barrel in DAP, three impeachment complaints are now pending in Congress–two for culpably violating the Constitution via DAP and one for signing the equally questionable PH-US Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. The president now faces political isolation for his misdeeds. The protests, meanwhile, are expected to only intensify–and become more, much more, colorful.
An initial estimate of 30,000 people marched from the corner of Luzon Avenue along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City in protest of Aquino’s State of the Nation Address. The group, led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, Gabriela, Anakbayan, Courage, Kadamay and many other progressive and sectoral groups, demand the resignation of President Aquino. Boy BagwisThe march, with Noynoy as holDAPer effigy. Boy BagwisNot yellow ribbons but red ones, calling for the President’s impeachment. Boy BagwisColorful mural of Noynoy Aquino as US imperialism’s stooge. Boy BagwisAn estimated 10,000 cops were deployed especially for SONA. The military added 400 troops to “secure” the President while in Batasan Pambansa. Boy BagwisMilitant peasants of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas from Central Luzon wait for the main multisectoral contingent coming from Luzon Avenue. Boy BagwisMusician Monet Silvestre speaks before the crowd. Jaze MarcoFestive atmosphere amid calls for a President’s ouster. Soliman A. SantosPeasant activists from Southern Tagalog. Darius GalangNeglected Typhoon Yolanda victims, as well as supporters of Nora Aunor who was rejected as National Artist by Aquino, were among the crowd. Mykel AndradaProtesters burn Aquino’s effigy. KR Guda
Meanwhile, inside the heavily secured Batasan Pambansa, President Aquino gives a SONA speech with a touch of drama, choking up at one point, as he again puts up a spirited defense of his administration’s achievements, thanks, he said, in no small part to his presidential pork barrel, the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP). Here are some of Pher Pasion’s photos:
Worlds away from the festive and militant expression of the peple’s state of the nation, SONAs in Batasan Pambansa have become the place-to-be for fashion-conscious politicos, personalities with ties to these politicos, and even some celebrities. Here, some congressmen do selfie with actress and Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez. Pher PasionThe Aquino sisters give the President some moral boost. During the speech, TV cameras later zooms in to them as they choke up as well. Ballsy Aquino, in an interview, says the speech felt like he was “saying goodbye”. Because of impeachment complaints, perhaps? Pher PasionBoxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao shares pleasantries with Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares and the some members of the Makabayan bloc from Bayan Muna, Gabriela Women’s Party-list, Anakpawis, ACT Teachers and Kabataan. Some reports have it that Pacquiao said he would have worn peach (for “impeach”) himself had he known of the progressive legislators’ plan. The “seven in peach” (Colmenares, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, Gabriela Reps. Luz Ilagan and Emmi de Jesus, Anakpawis Rep. Fernando Hicap, ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio and Kabataan Rep. Terry Ridon) later walked out of Aquino’s speech and joined the protests outside Batasan’s north gate. Pher PasionIn a gutsy move, theater actor and activist Mae Paner, who often goes by the satirical character “Juana Change”, attends the SONA of President Aquino (who she says she supported in 2010) while wearing a peach dress. Pher PasionMakabayan legislators walk out as Aquino starts with his speech. Pher PasionAquino in his SONA speech. He is flanked by an apparently bored Senate President and House Speaker. Pher Pasion
As Aquino delivers his speech, a group of protesters, still led by Bayan, manage to get near the north gate of Batasan Pambansa to stage a program:
As Bayan holds its main program in front of Ever Gotesco in Commonwealth Avenie, about 2,000 protesters hold a lightning rally near the north gate of Batasan. Despite police managing to block their way, the protesters managed to hold a program. Macky MacaspacUrban poor leaders call on the cops to make way for their protest. Macky MacaspacWomen urban poor leaders from Gabriela also led the march to the north gate. Macky MacaspacPhoto by Macky MacaspacPhoto by Macky MacaspacMakabayan legislators who walked out of Aquino’s SONA joins the protest action. Macky MacaspacGabriela Rep. Luz Ilagan shows off her fashion statement with the statement “Pork Barrel King, Panagutin!” Macky MacaspacACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio. Macky MacaspacThe Makabayan legislators as parliamentarians of the streets.Macky Macaspac
In Commonwealth Avenue, the protesters began to march a few meters towards the police barricades. The police had barricaded the entire lane with concrete and steel barriers, container vans and razor-sharp concertina wires. Boxed in and virtually imprisoned in the entire lane, the protesters asserted their right to protest by marching closer to the police, who responded by using water cannons on them–but failed to stop them. The protesters then held a brief program near the police blockade before peacefully dispersing.
Police attempt to hose down the demonstrators, who used their wooden placards to stand their ground. Boy BagwisPolice hide behind their shields. KR GudaSome protesters push through the steel barrier draped with concertina wires, as an official of the Commission on Human Rights (second from right, in white) asks the police to stop the water hosing. KR GudaProtesters stand their ground. KR GudaKR GudaDarius GalangThey were adamant in their call for the President’s ouster. KR Guda
Magandang araw. Nabasa ko ang limang tweets mo kaugnay ng State of the Nation Address ni Pang. Noynoy Aquino noong Hulyo 28. Sumusulat ako sa iyo dahil impluwensyal ka, maraming kababayan natin ang nakikinig at tumutulad sa opinyon mo sa maraming bagay. Mahalaga para sa akin na isang aktibista na masagot ang pagpuri mo kay […]
