By Bagong Alyansang Makabayan
The ongoing flooding crisis has shown that the biggest disaster to hit the country for the past three years is the US-Marcos regime. The destructive flooding can be linked to the intensified mining, quarrying, dredging, and reclamation projects by big business interests and approved by the government. Bureaucratic corruption made the problem worse by diverting funds for flood-control and other vital infrastructure projects into the pockets of politicians and public officials.
The Sona protest seeks accountability for the slow and inadequate response of the government in dealing with the effects of climate change like stronger typhoons and its complicity with extractive corporations in destroying the environment. Marcos said a new mindset is needed in dealing with climate change. He conveniently overlooks that the government’s anti-people and anti-environment policies are what need to be discarded and replaced. Protests will be the new normal as more people are outraged over the disastrous impact of systemic corruption.
The SONA protest will also express the people’s dismay over the Supreme Court’s decision derailing the impeachment trial of Sara Duterte. Impunity for big-time corruption in government is further entrenched by the SC decision. It is now almost impossible to hold corrupt and abusive impeachable officials such as the president, vice president and SC justices themselves accountable. They twist laws and legal processes to get away with their high crimes and frustrate the people’s pursuit of truth, justice and accountability.
Over the past three years, Marcos Jr consolidated his hold on political power by complete subservience to US imperialist dictates on the economy, foreign policy as well national security. True to the fascist character of his regime, Marcos Jr continues the use of repressive laws and instrumentalities such as the Terror Law, the NTF-ELCAC, and even the bloody “war on drugs” initiated by his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte.
Bureaucratic corruption and cronyism, state terror, puppetry to US imperialism and plain bad governance have resulted in intolerable misery and hardships for our people. Marcos blocked the wage hike bill, he failed to bring down the price of rice and basic goods, his government rakes in windfall taxes from weekly oil price hikes and the higher rates charged by utility companies. He has sold our national sovereignty and patrimony to foreign interests by caving in to the zero tariff rate on US goods imposed by Trump. He has facilitated opening up the entire country for stationing US military forces and war materiel including weapons of mass destruction. He has entered into more lopsided military agreements with even more countries. He has authorized year-round military operations by foreign armies in the guise of military exercises and in the process laying the ground for the Philippines being dragged into war provocations against China.
The SONA protest in Metro Manila dubbed “SONA ng Paniningil” is our people’s legitimate and democratic response to the exploitation and oppression perpetuated by the US-Marcos Jr regime. In particular, it will provide the opening salvo to a continuing series of mass protests demanding accountability (#MarcosSingilin) while pushing for the ouster of Sara Duterte and the conviction of Rodrigo Duterte in the ICC (#DutertePanagutin).
Through our people’s collective action — and not by relying on a political system that is rotten to the core — we can assert our democratic rights, struggle for national and social liberation and emerge victorious amidst the worsening crisis of the ruling system.
Marcos singilin!
Duterte panagutin! #SaraLitisin! Panagutin!
Itakwil and papet, pasista, pahirap, at pahamak na Rehimeng US-Marcos!
