Bayan to Palace: Focus on anti-corruption drive, not Sept. 21 rallies

MANILA, Philippines — Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) on Thursday slammed Malacañang for urging protesters to maintain peace in rallies expected to mark the 54th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law on Monday, September 21.

“Ang dapat na rendahan nila yung mga kurakot, yung mga abusado sa kapangyarihan,” Bayan Secretary-General Mong Palatino said on the sidelines of a protest outside Camp Crame in Quezon City.

(They should instead rein in the corrupt, those abusing power.)

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“Hindi yung mamamayan na nagrereklamo sa matinding korapsyon, matinding problema ng kagutuman, mataas na presyo ng langis. Hindi ba yan kagalit-galit?” he added.

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(They shouldn’t rein in the people expressing grievances over widespread corruption, prevailing hunger, rising oil prices. Aren’t those deserving of anger?)

“Kaya walang karapatan ang Malacañang na magdikta at magsabi sa mamamayan kung paano gawin ang ating protesta,” Palatino stressed.

(That’s why Malacañang has no right to dictate and tell the people how to protest.)

READ: Palace appeals for peaceful Sept. 21 demonstrations

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Palace press officer Claire Castro on Wednesday appealed to protesters to stage peaceful rallies, noting that the Philippine National Police (PNP) has heightened its security preparations.

The PNP – National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) earlier said that it will deploy at least 15,000 police officers personnel for security measures during the expected protest actions.

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NCRPO officer in charge Brig. Gen. Christopher Abrahano detailed that their unit has also intensified intelligence-gathering to prevent a repeat of the riots during the September 21 protests last year, decrying corruption in the wake of the flood control scandal.

Palatino condemned the deployment of police officers.

“Ito ay overkill deployment,” he said.

(This is an overkill deployment.)

“Sa September 21, babalik tayo sa lansangan sa Maynila para maningil sa pamahalaan ni [President Ferdinand] Marcos Jr.,” he added.

(This September 21, we will return to the streets of Manila to demand justice from the government of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.)

“Siya ang mahiya dahil, one year after the flood control scam, hindi umaabot sa Malacañang ang corruption investigation. Hindi pinapanagot si Marcos at mga alipores niya,” he stressed, alluding to the president’s “Mahiya naman kayo” remark that spurred the flood control investigations.

(He should be the one ashamed because, one year after the flood control scam, the investigation has not reached Malacañang. Marcos and his henchmen will not be held accountable.)

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He pointed out that former Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan had been excluded from plunder and graft charges before the Sandiganbayan Third Division and released from the PNP General Hospital earlier this September. /gsg