Activists decry silence on rights situation, ICC case in Sona
‘NOTHING HAD CHANGED’ | Protesters converge before a police barricade on Commonwealth Avenue, a good distance from the House of Representatives where President Marcos delivered his report to the nation on Monday. (Photo by LYN RILLON / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — Just as his father’s “Bagong Lipunan” (New Society) failed to cover up the thousands of human rights violations committed under martial law, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s “Bagong Pilipinas” (New Philippines) also glossed over the continuing culture of impunity under his watch.
This was the general sentiment of some rights advocates and activists after listening to Mr. Marcos’ second State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, which again made no mention of human rights.
“What is it with Marcos and human rights that he refuses to address this issue?” asked Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes. “We find this alarming. No human rights under ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ like it was under ‘Bagong Lipunan.’’’
“He literally said nothing to address significant civil and political rights issues besetting the Filipino people today,” said Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay. “His Sona reaffirmed that his government will do nothing to act on and improve the civil and political rights situation in the country.”
“This means that we can expect the current trend of escalating human rights violations to continue … His Sona has left us not just deeply disappointed, but disgusted, exasperated and enraged,” she added.
Lawyer and legal counsel to drug war victims Kristina Conti called it “interesting” that Mr. Marcos did not even mention the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation nor the possible prosecution of government officials in relation to the drug war.
“That ‘war on drugs’ has a new face is both self-protection and self-deception,” she said. “Marcos is letting perpetrators get away with atrocities as he believes the corrupt and the incompetent will simply resign—and for that he should be taken to account as well.”
No improvement
For Bayan Muna chair and human rights lawyer Neri Colmenares, the President’s silence on the ICC issue was an admission that there has been no improvement in human rights under his administration.
“This deafening silence on the ICC means that impunity continues,” Colmenares said, noting that the issue was one of the most important affecting the “state of the nation.”
As the President prepared to deliver his Sona, groups for and against the government gathered separately on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, with the police estimating the pro-Marcos crowd at around 1,000 to 1,500 and the anti-Marcos forces at between 3,000 and 3,500.
Marcos supporters held a free mini concert outside the Batasang Pambansa Complex after gathering near the Commission on Audit building.
One of them, 57-year-old Allan Niega, said he admired the President for his “humaneness” as he also called on those opposed to the government to unite with them.
Another Marcos supporter, 54-year-old Helen Adoniso, said that she remained hopeful about seeing the country develop under his administration.
Asked if she was satisfied with the President’s performance during his first year in office, Adoniso answered: “On all his [programs for] the poor, including housing, I am still hoping that they all come true.”
On the other hand, militant activist groups such as Anakbayan, Bayan, League of Filipino Students and Gabriela converged at Philcoa and marched toward the Sandiganbayan to highlight their concerns on “economic decline, impunity and trampled sovereignty.”
On the way to Tandang Sora footbridge, some set on fire an effigy of the President standing on top of a huge combat boot. Later on, another effigy of a coin with Mr. Marcos’ face and the words “Sagisag ng Alamano ng Pilipinas” was also burned, prompting a warning from Metro Manila police chief, Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., that those who took part might be charged with violating the Clean Air Act.
Over 22,000 police personnel and force multipliers from other uniformed services were deployed to secure the Sona.
Airing of grievances
During their anti-Sona rally, militant groups took turns airing their concerns and complaints against the government.
“Our fishermen are not lazy yet they experience immense hardship. Among the reasons for this is the administration’s projects that destroy their livelihood such as the reclamation projects,” said spokesperson Ronnie Arambulo of the fishers group Pamalakaya.
Worker rights advocate Luke Espiritu of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, meanwhile, criticized contractualization schemes which continue to exploit and deprive laborers of rightful compensation.
Militant groups also gathered in different areas in the Visayas to express a similar sentiment: The government was a failure as nothing had changed in the past year since Mr. Marcos came into power.
In Cebu City, about 600 people, among them drivers, the urban poor, vendors, women and students joined a protest march. It was the biggest rally in the city so far since the President assumed office in June last year.
“[Mr.] Marcos has not solved the problems of Filipinos. What he did was to travel abroad purportedly to look for investors. But until now, the crisis our country is facing has worsened,” according to Alyansang Mamumuo sa Sugbo (Labor Alliance Cebu) secretary general Howell Villacrucis.
Bayan Central Visayas chair Jaime Paglinawan said their group gave the President a grade of 2 out of 10 as he described his first year in office as “palpak” (a failure).
In Tacloban City, members of the Freedom from Debt Coalition held a rally at the Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Plaza.
“The one-year honeymoon with his administration is now over. And one year later, our situation remains very precarious with the ordinary Filipinos continuing to struggle in their daily lives,” Fara Gamalo said.
In Bacolod City, about 300 protesters led by Bayan-Negros called Mr. Marcos a “failure.”
“We won’t believe the President’s Sona because he has been in office for a year and yet the lives of the people have not changed,” said Bayan Negros spokesperson Noli Rosales.
—WITH REPORTS FROM DALE ISRAEL, JOEY GABIETA, CARLA GOMEZ, JANE BAUTISTA AND FRANCES MANGOSING
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