#BahaSaLuneta protest say Marcos Jr, Sara should resign

MANILA – “Marcos Jr, Duterte, resign!” 

This is the call of the protesters in another anti-corruption protest held on Bonifacio Day, November 30.

The groups are calling for the resignation of the highest officials of land, saying that they are the mastermind behind the worsening corruption.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and the Kilusang Bayan Kontra Korapsyon protest served as a continuation of the September 21 rally which stemmed from the controversial flood control projects. 

While Akbayan called for Marcos Jr to step up in addressing corruption, Bayan and other groups in the #BahaSaLuneta pointed out that Marcos Jr. himself should be held liable. 

Five months, zero accountability

David Michael San Juan, a De La Salle University professor and convener of the Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado Network Alliance (TAMA NA), lamented that not one government official involved in corruption has been held accountable. He said it has been five months since the flood-control scam was exposed, and more than 30 legislators have been identified by the Office of the Ombudsman as being involved in the anomalies, yet not one of them has even been brought to trial.

San Juan added, “Many of our people are almost begging just to afford hospitalization or buy medicine, struggling to scrape together their children’s school allowances, drowning in debt, and earning too little despite working themselves to the bone—while the corrupt are comfortably lying on billions of pesos.” 

“They say a P57 billion kickback was delivered to Marcos and Romualdez, while we earn so little because of high taxes—and the government still tells us to make do with P500 for Noche Buena. Is P500 enough for Noche Buena? No!” San Juan said in Filipino. 

He stressed that both Maros Jr and Duterte are no different from each other as they both accepted donations from contractors. 

Jerome Adonis, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) secretary general, said that Filipinos should not choose between Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte since both of them have corruption cases. “For workers, the first step to accountability is to oust both Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte from their position by the Filipinos.”

Adonis emphasized that the people should be enraged by the worsening corruption under Marcos Jr. administration because the wealth they stole is from the ‘blood and sweat’ of ordinary working Filipino people. 

Danilo Ramos, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) chairperson, described that the amount of damages due to corruption is much worse than the typhoon and flood itself that occurred in the Philippines these past few months. “Although the [recent] typhoons have gone away, corruption is still lingering in Filipinos’ lives that worsens poverty.”

Both Adonis, Ramos, and progressive groups pushed for the People’s Transition Council after more revelation came out from politicians and government officials on the issue of corruption in government. 

According to the progressive groups, if both president and vice president resign, a national transition council, a provisional governing body, would take over leadership until a new, legitimate civilian authority is installed. 

The proposed transitional council is presented as an alternative to the existing political leadership and as a path toward more democratic civilian governance.

In the program at Luneta, Makabayan Coalition reiterated that the national transition council will be led by the people from different sectors. 

Bayan stressed that the People’s Transition Council is right and just if it consists of marginalized sectors in the country. “Calls for resignation and transition are not destabilization. They are the people’s safeguard against entrenched corruption, dynastic rule and systemic decay.” (RVO)

(With reports from Ernest Aaron Cruz)

The post #BahaSaLuneta protest say Marcos Jr, Sara should resign appeared first on Bulatlat.