Bayan joins shame-campaign bandwagon to protest ‘big-time criminals’

Inspired by the “Walk of Shame” gimmick employed by some local chief executives, militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) on Tuesday paraded masked men wearing the faces of President Benigno Aquino III and his Cabinet members.

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Former party-list representative Mong Palatino, chairman of Bayan NCR, said the protest is a reminder to the people that the Aquino administration’s “sins” should not be forgotten.

“Uso ngayon ang pinaparada ang mga petty criminals. Sana huwag nating kalimutan yung mga big-time criminals sa ating bayan, nagpanukala ng unconstitutional disbursement program. Hindi ba dapat may managot dito?” he said, referring to Budget Secretary Butch Abad.

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(Parading petty criminals is a trend right now. Let’s not forget the big-time criminals in our country, like the one who proposed the unconstitutional disbursement program. Shouldn’t someone be held accountable?)

Palatino said their group is already preparing cases to file against Aquino and his men.

“Dahil hindi tayo papayag na ang kurapsyon, kapabayaan at ang kriminal na pabaya sa kanilang katungkulan ay hahayaan natin ng walang parusa. Ito po ay bahagi ng ating krusada para sa mabuting pamumuno at pagbabago sa ating bayan,” he said.

(Because we will not allow those who committed corruption and criminal negligence to be left unpunished. This is part of our crusade for good governance and change in our nation.)

Among the “sins” enumerated by the group are the decrepit state of the Metro Rail Transit, the lack of support for people affected by typhoon Yolanda and the Mamasapano massacre.

Militant group Bayan stages a “Walk of Shame” with Aquino’s cabinet secretaries, Budget Sec. Butch abad, DOTC Sec. Emilio Abaya, SWD Sec. Dinky Soliman and former chief PNP Alan Purisima, after what they claim is a poor legacy of outgoing Pres. Benigno Aquino, in Mendiola on Tuesday. INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

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“Ilang araw na lamang magtatapos na ang termino ng ating Pangulong Aquino at ang panawagan natin sa lahat at sa bagong administrasyon ni Pangulong Duterte dapat po panagutin, kasuhan at ikulong itong si Noynoy Aquino at ang kanyang mga kasamahan sa pamahalaan para sa mga kasamaang kanilang ginawa sa ating bansa,” Palatino said.

(We have only a few days left before the term of President Aquino ends and our call to the new administration of President Duterte is to hold accountable, charge and put in jail Noynoy Aquino and his cohorts for the bad things that they have done to our country.) TVJ