Panay militants slam SONA
Militant groups yesterday held protest actions on Panay Island in their own version of the State of the Nation Address.
Around 2,000 protesters led by the by the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan marched in the main streets of Iloilo City before holding a rally at the grounds of the Iloilo provincial capitol.
Bayan-Panay spokesperson Boy Bosque said the President's rosy picture of the economy is "a far cry from what most Filipinos are experiencing daily." Bosque said poverty has worsened under the Arroyo administration with more Filipino without jobs.
The protesters called for the junking of the Human Security Act which took effect last July 15. They warned that the law will only be used against government critics and political dissenters and will lead to more political killings and abductions.
In Roxas City in Capiz, around 700 protesters led by Bayan-Capiz took to the streets to hold a protest rally.
In the capital town of Kalibo in Aklan, around 350 protesters led by Bayan and Bayan Muna joined a similar rally in front of the Aklan College.