Panay civil society to deliver ‘People’s United SONA’ today

President Duterte faces protesters outside Batasang Pambansa after his SONA last July 24, 2018. ABS-CBN

ILOILO City – Simultaneous with the third State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte this afternoon, the civil society in Panay Island would deliver its own “People’s United SONA.”

Cause-oriented groups, the clergy and religious organizations, activist lawyers, youth and students, urban poor, labor and consumer groups would gather on Bonifacio Drive here.

“We – church leaders under various denominations, seminarians and lay persons, people’s organizations, lawyers, and professionals, and political organizations – add our voices to the intensifying movement against tyranny,” read part of the “unity statement” of the groups.

These groups convened last week and agreed to “unite to cast away the evils in Malacañang.”

They criticized, among others, the “brutal campaign of murders among the innocent and suspected criminals that had disregarded the precious gift of life.”

For today’s SONA, they planned to march around the city after a short program in front of the Iloilo provincial capitol that would start around 1 p.m.

Among the more prominent signatories of their unity statement were Monsignor Meliton Oso, director of the Jaro Archdiocesan Social Action Center; Atty. Teofisto Melliza of the National Union of People’s Lawyers – Panay; Edgar Salarda of the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper and Operators Nationwide – Panay; and Elmer Forro of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan – Panay.

Here’s the complete unity statement of the groups:

“Our people woke up to days of foreboding, uncertain of what the future holds for them.

“Will there be enough food on the table? Will there be some job opening somewhere? Will there be another body sprawled on the sidewalk felled by the police? Will there be another Genesis ‘Tisoy’ Argoncillo? Will there be more clergy and human rights defenders meeting the same fate as Fr. Richmond Nilo? Will impunity continue to be the order of the day?

“In an atmosphere of pained mourning, we – church leaders under various denominations, seminarians and lay persons, people’s organizations, lawyers, and professionals, and political organizations – have gathered on this consultation for the United People’s SONA 2018 to add our voices to the intensifying movement against tyranny.

“We cannot but turn our mourning into protest because the signs are all too clear. The unabated killings demonstrate how this dispensation perceives human life. The neglect of the hungry and the homeless proves where government priorities lie. Critics are silenced by incarceration and bullets.

The Chief Executive’s irreverent statements against the God of the struggling poor reveal his disrespect for the faith confessions of the people.

Freedom, Justice and Peace are God’s gifts to us. We cannot allow anyone, especially those in civil power authority, to forcibly take away these gifts from us.

Inspired by the Gospel and the heroism of our martyrs and taking our cue from the God’s struggling people, we will move forward with them to claim what rightfully belongs to them.

“We must put an end to the glaring economic degradation that clearly burdens the poor and the vast majority of our countrymen. The poor have had enough.

“The brutal campaign of murders among the innocent and suspected criminals had disregarded the precious gift of life. Even the workers of God become victims of this bloodbath.

“Let us unite to cast away the evils in Malacañang. Let us put an end to these unabated killings and mass murders and the culture of impunity. We stand and act now!

“And it is now imperative to gather and mobilize for truth, dignity, democracy, and life. Together, we will express our cries on the Peoples United SONA on July 23rd.

“…let us ‘put on the armor of God’, standing firm with ‘the belt of truth’, ‘with the breastplate of righteousness’, ‘with the sandals of readiness that come from the gospel of peace’, ‘taking up with the shield of faith’, and ‘the sword of the Spirit.’”/PN

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