Bicol groups hold protests vs Cha-cha on Edsa People Power anniversary

FILE PHOTO: This photo shows the details of the People Power Monument along Edsa, where the young and old waved the banner of freedom during the People Power Revolution in February 1986. Philippine Daily Inquirer/LYN RILLON

LEGAZPI CITY — Several sectoral and progressive groups in Albay province gathered at Peñaranda Park in this city on Sunday to join protests against the proposed Charter Change (Cha-Cha) at the commemoration of the 38th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution.

Progressive groups Bicolana Gabriela and Kabataan Partylist Bicol on Saturday, Feb. 24, called on the youth to join the Sunday protest here.

In an interview on Sunday, Nica Ombao, regional coordinator of Bicolana Gabriela, said the celebration of the EDSA People Power Revolution is also a movement to oppose the revision of the 1987 Constitution and address other “anti-people” government initiatives such as the jeepney modernization program and Rice Liberalization Law.

READ: Protesters celebrate ‘People Power’ ousting of Marcos Sr.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), an umbrella organization of different progressive groups, has been campaigning against the People’s Initiative (PI), which they said is only aimed at term extensions of elite politicians.

“‘Bagong Pilipinas’ na raw ngayon, pero ang mga nasa pwesto, dating gawi pa rin (They say it’s a new Philippines now but those in office are still doing the same things),” Bayan said in a statement Saturday.

Bayan asserted that those in favor of Cha-Cha are taking advantage of the poor to gather signatures to support the move to change the Constitution.

READ: Redeeming the promise of Edsa

The groups marched from the Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center in Daraga town to the Peñaranda Park in the Old Albay District of Legazpi City.

Omba said that protest programs are also scheduled at the Quince Martires Plaza Naga City in Camarines Sur and Sorsogon City in Sorsogon on Sunday morning.

The February 25, 1986 EDSA People Power was a successful and peaceful revolution that overthrew the administration of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the father of incumbent President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos.