Photos by LUIS LIWANAG and MARIO IGNACIO
THERE are always two SONAs.
While the President delivers his report to the people in his yearly State of the Nation Address before members of Congress at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City, militant groups gather outside to deliver their own version of the state of the nation.
This year, the police made sure that the voices of dissent would be mar President Aquino’s delivery of his version of the Philippines today. Protest rallies were allowed only four kilometers away from Batasan.
Emotions ran high as protesters attempted to get past the phalanx of policemen. Protesters clashed with policemen.
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President Aquino’s SONA this year was 55 pages long and it took him almost two hours to deliver it.
It was notable for the number of issues he skipped: Freedom of Information bill, Overseas Filipino Workers, Mining, strained relations with China and Taiwan.
Lawyer Harry Roque lamented the non-mention about the Maguindanao massacre. “It was very sad that President Noynoy Aquino, for the first time in his SONA, did not have anything to say about the Maguindanao Massacre. As Chief Executive, it is still his duty to prosecute and cause the punishment of the perpetrators of the massacre,” he said.
Roque, who is counsel for families of 15 of the 58 victims, said further:“The President’s failure to state how he intend to finish the prosecution of the massacre case points to a lack of political will to punish those who will violate freedom of the press and the right to life.”
Gie Relova ,secretary-general of Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino-National Capital Region and Rizal Chapter (BMP-NCRR), who was among those hurt in the dispersal, said, “Nothing in his speech was favorable to ordinary wage-earners like me. The President’s speech was beneficial to only the filthy capitalists and their pawns in various government positions.”
Human Rights Watch, through their legal and olicy director James Ross, said they are dismayed that Aquino chose not to talk about the “ the continuing culture of impunity in the Philippines. “
“We are disappointed that he did not take the opportunity to communicate to the military and the police that they will be held accountable for human rights violations. President Aquino’s failure to denounce abuses against outspoken activists, environmentalists, clergy and journalists sends the wrong message to abusive security forces and corrupt politicians,” HRW said.
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