BY Victor Reyes and Gerard Naval
THE PNP yesterday said President Marcos Jr.’s second State of the Nation Address (SONA) was generally peaceful and credited this to preparations made in coordination with other agencies.
“Our security coverage for the SONA was generally peaceful as no untoward incident was recorded,” said PNP spokeswoman Col. Jean Fajardo.
“Our preparation was good, the planning and implementation of the security measures for SONA, in coordination with LGUs and other government agencies,” said Fajardo.
“Cooperation of the general public also played a significant role in maintaining peace and order, particularly in all the engagement areas,” added Fajardo.
Police estimates placed the number of protesters that marched from Commonwealth Ave. to Tandang Sora at around 5,000 although the protest organizers placed their strength at around 10,000.
The protesters dispersed at around 2:17 p.m. after holding a program, which included burning the effigies of the President and Vice President Sara Duterte.
National Capital Region Police Office Director Brig Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said “smooth security preparations” led to the “successful delivery” of the President’s address.
Nartatez said none among the 22,000 personnel of the PNP and other government agencies was hurt during their deployment although two were hurt during a commotion. He did not elaborate.
“Summing up with those indicators, the security operations deployment and operations were very successful leading to the conduct of the smooth delivery of the SONA,” said Nartatez.
Various issues were raised during the protests, among them wage hikes, livelihood and food for the people, and the end of violence.
The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), one of the many progressive groups that joined the demonstrations, said: “The state of the nation is the state of economic decline, state of impunity and the state of trampled sovereignty.
“What the people need, and what the Marcos regime has failed to provide, are stable jobs and increased wages and salaries.”
Bayan said the “state of impunity remains, as the Marcos regime did not depart from the fascist mindset of its predecessor.”
It noted the government’s refusal to cooperate with the International Criminal Court probe on drug war killings, use of the Anti-Terror Law against activists and revolutionaries, and refusal to resume peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front, among others.
“There is no indication that the Marcos regime will abandon the heavy-handed approach to critics, human rights defenders and those seeking fundamental change. The annual SONA has been an occasion to display police power and to suppress voices of dissent,” Bayan said.
Around 1,500 individuals supportive of the government held a program near the Commission on Audit.
Before noon yesterday, PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. visited policemen deployed on Commonwealth Ave.
“Let us show to our fellow Filipinos what the police officers are made of, that we are professionals and we exercise (professionalism) in all our dealings, in all our activities,” said Acorda.
Interviewed by reporters after the visit, Acorda said there were no untoward incidents so far reported, adding they have not monitored any serious security threat.
‘BIGONG PILIPINAS’
While the PNP gave itself a pat on the back, the Nagkaisa Labor Coalition (NAGKAISA) said the Marcos administration has failed to uplift the conditions of the working people during its first year. It said that instead of “Bagong Pilipinas,” the Marcos administration should adopt “Bigong Pilipinas” as its brand of governance.
“The President’s ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ narrative is fake news. ‘Bigong Pilipinas’ remains the appropriate representation of the true state of the nation today as far as the working people are concerned,” said NAGKAISA.
A week earlier, the Marcos administration launched the “Bagong Pilipinas” brand of governance.
“Many administrations have failed workers in many aspects. Thus, to be promised another ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ under the same conditions surely won’t get positive impressions from the working class,” it added.
The labor coalition said the “token” P40 wage increase in Metro Manila failed to enable workers to recover even half of the wage value lost to inflation.
It also said that Marcos has no intention of pursuing a new anti-”endo” policy in the private and public sectors.
“The Marcos administration is clearly on the path of keeping the status quo,” said NAGKAISA.
It also said the administration is unsympathetic towards the recommendations of the International Labor Organization to address killings and red-tagging in the labor movement and to strengthen mechanisms to protect freedom of association.
The group added that violence and harassments continue to oppress women inside and outside their workplaces.
“DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) slacks to undisturbed mode despite the continuing labor rights violations,” it said.
