United under the regional broad alliance STOP NA!, various sectors across Southern Tagalog composed of lawyers, students, urban poor, church and other cause-oriented groups, including railway-dwellers and victims of demolition brought about by the $932 million Southrail Project held a Caravan for Truth, Justice and Accountability en route to the Inter-faith rally in Makati City last February 29.
STOP NA (Southern Tagalog Organization and People’s Network Against Corruption, Poverty and Attack on People’s Rights) is a regional broad alliance conceived last February 25 by organizations and individuals against corruption.
Some 20-30 vehicles from different provinces in the region hit the road in the symbolic event, which commenced in Crossing, Calamba City at around 8AM and pushed through to Makati City later in the afternoon inspite harassments by PNP personnel.
Early on, the group staged a prayer vigil for truth and justice, attended by around 200 protestors from various parts of Southern Tagalog in Crossing, Calamba City last February 28, alongside the simultaneous protest actions in Lucena City, UP Los Banos and Pacita Complex. It also served as the converging point of the group before pushing to Makati.
According to Pastor Joel Tendero, spokesperson of STOP NA!, that the caravan is a way of showing solidarity with other sectors who advocates fighting corruption and in support of star witness Jun Lozada.
“We need to show to the Arroyo government that people from the province are even more against corrupt officials than in Manila, especially that many poor families reside in the provinces due to rampant corruption and the rotten system of government”, he said.
Arman Albarillo, secretary-general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Southern Tagalog (BAYAN-ST) meanwhile insisted that Arroyo should vacate her post considering her abuses against the people.
”The Arroyo government deserves no more chance. If people afforded to set aside the 2004 Election scandal and other unsolved corruption cases like the Fertilizer Fund scam, then the ZTE-NBN Deal will not spear her as people find more basis to demand her ouster”, he added.
Bani Cambronero, convenor of STOP NA! cited a blatant case of corruption under the Southrail Project where around 20, 000 families along the railways will soon be displaced.
“This anomalous project is one of the many projects where the First Family had made their share of wealth. In fact, the government has targeted a complete demolition within the year to facilitate their kickbacks”, he added.
On their way to Makati however, operatives from the Calamba City Philippine National Police, Traffic Management Group (TMG), including Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams blocked their entry along National Highway in Brgy. San Cristobal, Calamba City at around 9AM. At least four police cars occupied the road allowing a total blockade of the national road preventing ordinary commuters to pass the area. Police cited conflicting reasons for blocking the group, claiming traffic violation, standard procedure for a red alert status, and security concerns.
The stand-off lasted for almost 5 hours before the group receded and find a route off to Makati. The harassment continued along the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) where another TMG personnel attempted to stop and chase the group but the protesters managed to evade them.
The group later arrived in Makati at around 5PM and joined the 80, 000 crowd calling for Arroyo’s ouster.
Meanwhile, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) in a statement condemned the coordinated harassments and sought legal action against the PNP. Rally organizers also plans file similar charges before the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
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