‘Baha ng protesta’: What to expect from Sept. 21 Luneta rally

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‘Baha ng protesta’: What to expect from Sept. 21 Luneta rally

MANILA, Philippines — Various sectoral groups will be troop to Rizal Park in Manila to vent their grievances against corruption in the government on Sunday, Sept. 21, which is also the 53rd anniversary of the declaration of martial law by then-President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr.

The main protest at the park is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on Sunday, according to the lead organizer Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado Network Alliance (Tama Na).

In a press conference on Wednesday, the alliance’s member-groups announced that separate protest-actions will precede the Luneta rally.

Groups from Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon City

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Chairperson Teddy Casiño said they expect groups to first gather at Baclaran Church in Parañaque City; Mall of Asia in Pasay City; and the Quezon City Hall at 6 a.m. before proceeding to Manila.

Casiño added that they were also expecting bikers’ and joggers’ groups to hold their own protests in the park’s area prior to the main event.

Clergy, Filipino-Chinese gatherings

United Methodist Church pastor and National Council of Churches in the Philippines member Glofie Baluntong announced they will hold an ecunemical gathering at the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) Central Office along Taft Avenue at 7 a.m 

Meantime, Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order Chairperson and Filipino-Chinese civic leader Teresita Ang-See said their group will convene in Intramuros at 7:30 a.m. before marching to Luneta Park.

Universities

According to Tama Na convenor and De La Salle University professor David Michael San Juan, educational institutions will march from the Philippine General Hospital along Taft Avenue and converge with groups along T. M. Kalaw Avenue by 8 a.m.

Meanwhile, a prior social media post by the University of the Philippines Diliman University Student Council said there will be a local protest-action at their campus at 7 a.m. before proceeding to Luneta.

More actions

Transport group Manibela will offer free rides on its jeepneys for protesters heading to the rally on Sunday, its chairperson Mar Valbuena said at the press conference.

Casiño said more protest-actions were being organized by other groups associated with Bayan in the cities of Tagbilaran, General Santos, Laoag, San Fernando, Bacolod, Davao, Iloilo, Cebu, Tuguegarao, Santiago and Baguio to coincide with the Luneta rally.

Performances, crossover to Trillion Peso March

Casiño detailed that the Luneta protest will feature speakers from Tama Na’s member-groups and performances, but he did not specify who will be on the program as the list was still being finalized by the organizing committee.

However, the Bayan chairperson did say the main event is expected to end at 1 p.m., after which their group will march to the Mendiola Peace Arch then join the Trillion Peso March along the Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue and the People Power Monument in Quezon City.

Coordination

At the presser, San Juan said Tama Na already secured the necessary permits from the Manila city government, but that the exact locations of all the protest-actions have yet to be finalized.

On Tuesday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it will be deploying over 50,000 police officers to secure the Sept. 21 rallies and that it will meet with the organizers of both the Luneta protest and the Trillion Peso March to coordinate safety measures.

San Juan said Tama Na had yet to speak with the PNP and was also expecting a dialogue with Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, but both coordinating meetings have yet to happen.

“Whether or not there is a coordination meeting, this is all systems go. Rain or shine, the fight continues!”San Juan stressed.

The Luneta rally is among a series of protests condemning corruption in flood-control projects.

The demonstrations come as the House of Representatives and Senate investigate the alleged irregularities and as the Independent Commission for Infrastructure formed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. begins its own probe. /gsg

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