1,500 march from Calabarzon to join Sona protest rally

A 1,500-STRONG multi-sectoral group from Southern Tagalog boosted a rally of militant groups outside the House of Representatives after it marched from the provinces to Quezon City to protest the growing problem of land grabbing and the government’s anti-poor policies in the region.

Diego Torre, spokesperson of Southern Tagalog-Remove Aquino, said in a phone interview that the protesters from Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon (Calabarzon) provinces left their provinces on July 23 and marched to Quezon City in time for the Sona.

In Legazpi City, militant groups gave President Aquino a “zero”  grade for his administration’s failure to address human rights violations, extrajudicial killings of militants, poverty alleviation, graft and corruption in the government and for allowing the US military to make a foothold in the Philippines.

About 500 militants bearing anti-administration placards marched the 3.2-km stretch from Daraga town to Peñaranda Park in the city and torched a caricature of President Aquino.

Dan Balucio, Bayan-Bicol head, said extrajudicial killings during the Aquino administration in Bicol alone have reached 1,708.

“All the victims were not given justice. That’s how poor the Aquino administration is in solving murder cases,” he said.

Hernan Certeza, Kilusan Mayo Uno Bicol head, urged Albayanos not to vote for President Aquino’s anointed presidential candidate.

In Daet, Camarines Norte, about 60 militants held a march-rally along the capital town’s major streets ahead of the President’s Sona.

The march, organized by the Anakpawis party-list group, started at 10 a.m. and ended peacefully shortly before 1 p.m., said provincial police Director Senior Supt. Harris Fama.

Fama said Anakpawis was given a permit by the Daet municipal government to stage the protest activity. Maricar Cinco, Juan Escandor Jr. and Michael Jaucian, Southern Luzon Bureau