On the morning of June 30, national-democratic organizations marched to Mendiola in Manila to condemn and hold the Marcos Jr regime accountable on the occasion of its third year in power. The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) led the march. As in previous demonstrations, police blocked the protesters along Recto Avenue. The rallyist successfully removed the barricade and were able to express their grievances.
The protesters primarily highlighted the regime’s failure to lower prices and raise workers’ wages. Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s latest offense was his refusal to support the proposal for a ₱200 nationwide wage increase amid widespread poverty.
“Three years have passed, but poverty keeps getting worse. No real change occured,” one protester said.
They also denounced the regime’s subservience to US imperialism for allowing increased military presence in the country. This further endangers the country amid escalating tensions in Asia and ongoing armed conflicts in the Middle East, they said.
Among the rallyists are farmers who also denounced the regime. They said that landlessness and dispossession of farmers have worsened under the current regime.
“Three years in office have aggravated landlessness, hunger, and violence. Marcos Jr has inflicted relentless harm on the countryside. Since the beginning, he remains a scourge to farmers. Marcos Jr must be held to account for this worsening situation,” Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) chairperson Danilo Ramos said.
According to Karapatan, the regime’s three years in office have been marked by numerous human rights violations. “The State’s counter-insurgency program and policy of repression, as well as laws that curtail the people’s basic rights and freedom, remain in place. Aside from window dressing and projecting an image of a “better” human rights situation, there has been no change in the state of human rights and pursuit of justice in the country,” human rights defenders said.
The march is part of the broad mobilization by national-democratic groups to denounce the regime’s anti-people and pro-foreign policies, especially as its fourth State of the Nation Address is approaching.
