At De Oro ‘mananita’, youth group blasts subservience to China, lousy COVID-19 response

Braving the rain, youth activists hold a rally at the Divisoria Park in Cagayan de Oro to express indignation over the anti-terrorism bill in time for the observance of the 122nd Independence Day on Friday (June 12). JIGGER JERUSALEM

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—-Activists, mostly belonging to the group Akbayan Youth, held a birthday-themed mañanita, or early morning greeting, at the city’s Divisoria Park to denounce the anti-terrorism bill in a small rally timed with the observance of the country’s 122nd Independence Day on Friday afternoon (June 12).

“This protest is a call for the government to sort out its priorities,” said Ann Balane, spokesperson of the youth group in the city.

“It seems the government is more concerned with silencing its critics and protecting the interest of a few,” Balane said.

She said the government must focus on two things—fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and “confronting China on its invasion of our territories.”

“We cannot truly celebrate Independence Day when millions of Filipinos live in fear of an uncertain future due to the government’s failure to appropriately respond to the current public health crisis,” she added.

Balane said the President “seems to value his friendship with China more than our sovereignty.”

Braving the rain and surrounded by police officers, the protesters carried slogans, bouquets of flowers and a cake as they expressed indignation over the proposed anti-terrorism law.

Balane said the proposed law “only adds insult to injury by attempting to curtail our freedom of speech at a time when there is a growing discontent towards the government’s actions.”

“The numerous campaigns initiated online and offline to pressure House representatives to junk the terror bill is a clear manifestation that the Filipinos will not allow the government to threaten our democracy,” Balane said. The House, however, could no longer junk the bill as it was already passed by the two chambers of Congress and transmitted to President Rodrigo Duterte for signing into law.

“Let this be a reminder to the President that he serves for the interest of the Filipino people and not his best friend in China.”