Bulatlat - The Philippines's alternative weekly newsmagazine

This story was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. VII, No. 6, March 11-17, 2007

Bayan Muna Gets Special Award from Cebu City Gov’t

Notwithstanding efforts of the Arroyo administration to bar the top party-list group from winning in the upcoming polls, Bayan Muna (People First) received a Special Mayor’s Award during the Queen City’s 70^th Charter Day celebration last week.

BY KAREN S. PAPELLERO
Bulatlat

CEBU CITY-- Notwithstanding efforts of the Arroyo administration to bar the top party-list group from winning in the upcoming polls, Bayan Muna (People First) received a Special Mayor’s Award during the Queen City’s 70^th Charter Day celebration last week.

The award was in recognition of Bayan Muna’s contribution during the 12^th ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit held in Cebu last January 13- 15, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said.

Osmeña said he appreciates and takes pride in the mutual trust when dealing with Bayan Muna and he recognizes them as pro-active citizens of the community. He also stressed that Bayan Muna enjoys close collaboration and protection from the city government.

“The city government gives its full confidence and trust in working/dealing with Bayan Muna,” Osmeña said. “Rest assured that the Cebu City government will give its full cooperation to Bayan Muna in the pursuit of peace and development in the community.”

“This award clearly belies the accusations hurled against Bayan Muna as destabilizers and terrorists,” said Arman Perez, Bayan Muna-Cebu secretary-general. “This only shows that the prestige and mandate Bayan Muna has achieved through its genuine service to its constituents could not be negated.”

“In fact, the consistent stand of the organization against policies inimical to the people’s interests, even that of the Mayor, is duly viewed as essential to development and democracy,” he added.

Perez further clarified that the award proved that the protests and mass actions of Bayan Muna and allied people’s organizations during the12^th ASEAN Summit did not cause trouble or shame the host province, as some government officials said.

“We are, therefore, encouraged to continue and strengthen our resolve in living up to our mandate even in the midst of the unabated killings victimizing our members all over the country,” Perez said. “Bayan Muna will stand firm and will triumph with the people’s trust and confidence.” Bulatlat

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