By REYNARD MAGTOTO
Bicol Today
TACLOBAN CITY – Over 700 “lakbayanis” once more held accountable the Aquino regime over its negligence of those affected by Typhoon Pablo (Bopha) and Yolanda (Haiyan), and even militarizing the affected communities.
The Manilakbayan ng Mindanao arrived in Tacloban City yesterday, Oct. 22.
“In Tacloban there was Typhoon Yolanda, in Mindanao there are 56 military battalions, the strong storm against the people,” said Benito Bay-ao, a Lumad leader of the 500 evacuees from Talaingod, Davao del Norte currently seeking refuge in UCCP, Haran in Davao City since May.
“Victims of Pablo and Yolanda will never forget the total of almost half billion worth of foreign aid that has still to materialize before their eyes, the expired medicines that went undistributed long after many suffered long hours of illness, the thousands of substandard bunkhouses that are not decent enough to live in,” said the Manilakbayan statement.
People’s Surge, a people’s organization from Tacloban formed in the aftermath of Yolanda led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Eastern Visayas supports Manilakbayan 2015 and brings the issue of militarization in Mindanao all over the country, as they call for justice and accountability from the Aquino administration.
Affected areas of Southern Mindanao and Eastern Visayas were left reeling from the destruction of structures and livelihood up to the present. This is even worsened with the killing of Cristina Jose and Felix Basig, progressive leaders of Barug Katawhan, and Jefferson Custodio and Rodolfo Basada of People’s Surge, silenced by the Aquino government’s “fascist military forces,” said the Manilakbayan statement.
“Their bodies may have been riddled with bullets, but their voice along with many others will forever be remembered and echoed in the continuation of their struggle,” it further added.
The “lakbayanis” marched along the San Juanico bridge and the caravan will proceed to Bicol region as their next stop. BicolToday.com Reposted by
