MANILA, Philippines—Protesters are dispersed with water cannon as they attempt to force
their way closer to the House of Representatives to coincide with the
State of the Nation Address (Sona) by Philippine President Benigno
Aquino III Monday, July 28, 2014, in Quezon City.
People not known to join past protest actions
against President Aquino, such as award-winning scriptwriter Ricky Lee
and satirist Mae Paner (aka Juana Change), were at a huge rally against
the President’s fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday.
“The people now have a different view of this government. There’s
a growing desperation and anger among the people,” Lee, who wrote the
script of Nora Aunor’s highly acclaimed movie “Himala,” said of the
crowd gathered a few kilometers from the House of Representatives where
Aquino delivered his address.
“As long as there are people sleeping on the streets, as long as
there’s hunger, the state of the nation is not OK. It’s that simple,”
the scriptwriter said. Lee said he supported Aquino in the 2010
presidential election.
Paner joined the protest calling for Aquino’s impeachment,
wearing a Filipiniana dress she once wore in an election campaign for
him in 2010.
Anticrime crusader Dante Jimenez and about 30 members of the
Volunteers against Crime and Corruption were also among the first-timers
at the Sona rally.
“President Aquino has failed to realize that the worsening
corruption results in increased criminality in our society. We cannot
fight crimes if we cannot address corruption,” said Jimenez.
“I was ‘yellow’ before,” Paner told the crowd on Commonwealth Avenue
in Quezon City, referring to the President’s political campaign color.
“I’m sorry that I supported him. I thought the lives of ordinary
people would improve under his administration,” said Paner, a petitioner
in one of the three impeachment complaints against Mr. Aquino.
“It turned out that at the end of his straight path is a cliff,” she said.
Paner told the crowd to watch out for her costume change when she
goes to the House to attend the President’s Sona. She was among the
hundreds of people in the gallery of the House of Representatives as the
President delivered his address.
Paner, the comedian known as “Juana Change” who campaigned for
Aquino in 2010, stayed behind and attempted to heckle the President
during the latter part of his speech.
A member of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) was quick to
confiscate Paner’s placard before she could create a commotion. Paner
was not kicked out of the event, as she stayed slumped over her seat
while the PSG stood eagle-eyed across the aisle for the rest of the
affair.
Source: INQUIRER, AP
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