Dr. Robyn Rodriguez, an immigration scholar from Rutgers University and spokesperson for the New York Coalition for Gloria’s Ouster (NYC 4 GLO), said “This day is significant because right now Filipinos all over the world are simultaneously coming together in mass mobilizations…to say that even though we are overseas, we have not forgotten our homeland, and we want this fake and illegitimate president to step down as much as our compatriots in the Philippines.
Humorous ringtones featuring the now-infamous “Hello Garci” wiretapped recordings blasted through loudspeakers along 69th and Roosevelt Avenue, while a giant cellphone titled “Cinungaling” (a play on the
popular brand Cingular) and featuring Gloria’s face playfully read “Press # to delete. Oust Gloria!”. Several onlookers and passersby, amused by the rally’s colorful antics, joined the rallyers.
After exposes of illegal gambling and massive electoral fraud in last year’s elections, the Macapagal-Arroyo regime has been slammed by a growing mass movement calling for regime change.
Beyond jueteng and poll scandal
“But this goes beyond the jueteng (an illegal numbers game) and elections scandal,” said Berna Ellorin of BAYANusa, also a convenor of the New York alliance. “The people placed their trust in Arroyo after ousting a corrupt Estrada regime back in 2001. But instead of taking us forward, Gloria has taken us 100 steps backward. She has embraced Bush’s war and opened our soil to U.S. military training. The Philippines is the fourth largest recipient of U.S. military aid. She has driven our country to an intense fiscal crisis by rampant corruption, and she takes home the prize for the highest record in human rights violations under her regime than any other in recent history.”
Ellorin also stressed that Gloria’s refusal to resign will inevitably lead to her ouster.
Protesters expressed their support for the formation of a transitional national council that would act as a consultative body and decide on the next steps for the country after Macapagal-Arroyo. “Plainly and simply, [Vice President] Noli de Castro is not an option!” Rodriguez said.
Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, a group of Filipinos picketing the Philippine Consulate tagged Macapagal-Arroyo as “Brand X president.” Dolores T. Balladeres, chair of United Filipinos in Hong Kong (Unifil HK), said “Brand X” in popular Philippine advertisements are products that are fake, substandard and should never be trusted.
Balladeres said the blown-up photos of the president with a big X written over her face held by the protesters symbolized the people’s overwhelming demand for Macapagal-Arroyo to step down.
Overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong are gearing up for a wave of protests in the coming weeks until the president is ousted, the Unifil chair also said.
On July 10, more than 30 Filipino migrant groups formed the Overseas Filipinos, Families and Advocates: United and Rise to Oust Gloria (Outrage).
“Outrage will gather thousands of Filipino migrants in a protest program on July 24 – the day before Macapagal-Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address (SONA). If she’s still there,” Balladares said.
Similar alliances for Macapagal-Arroyo’s ouster are being formed in Italy and many other countries, she said.
The Unifil chair also reiterated the overseas Filipino workers’ support to the formation of a transitional governing council to replace the current administration. She said that former President Fidel V. Ramos’ formula of charter change is not acceptable to the Filipino people. Bulatlat
