Anti-Cha-cha protests mark Independence Day

Several thousands of protesters joined the protests against Charter change, June 12.

In Manila, about 10,000 protesters participated in an Inter-Faith prayer rally at the Liwasang Bonifacio.

Members of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and its allied organizations marched from two assembly points – Welcome Rotunda and Quirino avenue corner Taft avenue --toward the Liwasang Bonifacio, 4 pm.

Former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr., National Artist for Literature Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera, Senator Jamby Madrigal, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito, Manila Vice Mayor Danny Lacuña were among the personalities who attended the rites.

Subtle dictatorship

In his message read by Fr. Joe Dizon of Kairos Philippines, Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said the country must be liberated from ‘unfreedoms,’ including subtle dictatorship.

“We have freed ourselves from the punishment of death penalty. But we still have to free ourselves from drug addiction and drug lords, from jueteng addictions and jueteng lords, from the temptation to extort and to bribe, from exploitation of women and children, from the killings of militants, labor leaders and journalists without the benefit of just trial, from torture and maltreatment of every kind, from graft and corruption and subtle dictatorship,” said Lagdameo in a statement.

During the homilies, Archbishop Oscar Cruz said, “Mali ang porma. Mali ang proseso. Mali ang motibo. Cha-cha, No-no-no!” (The form is wrong. The process is wrong. The motives are wrong. We say no to Cha-cha.)

Bishop Teodoro Bacani said that while the Philippines has already achieved independence from Spanish and American colonizers and from the Marcos dictatorship, it has yet to achieve freedom from Mrs. Arroyo.

Bacani said, “The administration has abolished death sentences but not the death squads. They say the Filipino people are free but when we speak against the government, we do not know if we would still be free the next day.”

Bishop Eleazar Pascua of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) said that 18 church people had been assassinated since 2004, 15 of whom were affiliated with the UCCP.

Iglesia Filipina Independiente Bishop Alberto Ramiento said they oppose Charter change because it aims to prolong Mrs. Arroyo in power. Ramiento said the charter change will not benefit the Filipino people as the proposed revisions will further undermine the country’s national patrimony.

Other cities

Lagdameo himself led 2,500 protesters at the Iloilo Capitol grounds.

In Bacolod City, some 10,000 attended the anti-Cha-cha rally. Bishop Vicente Navarra called it “Christian fight for freedom.”

About 6,000 protesters attended the rally in Davao City. They came from Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental and Davao del Sur. The march started at the Freedom Park and ended at the Centennial Park near the City Hall.

The participants at the rally experienced military harassment on their way to the protest site. Protesters aboard five trucks from Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur were held by elements of the Task Force Davao (TFD) in Toril. Those from Compostela Valley and Davao del Norte on board 25 trucks were also blocked at the TFD checkpoints Lasang and Tibungco towns.

Other provinces in Mindanao also held similar actions. In Butuan City, the crowd estimate was placed at 1,000, some 600 in Surigao City, 400 in Tandag, 500 in Mangagoy, in Surigao del Sur, and 650 in Cagayan de Oro City.

Meanwhile, Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon contingents joined the rally in Manil