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Under Duterte, the youth has been one of the most targeted by state-sponsored attacks. However, these attacks fueled the youth to persevere in fighting for their rights that is evident in the campaigns they forwarded, and the dismissal of charges against them.
The Kabataan Partylist, being one of the partylists under the Makabayan coalition is consistently being redtagged. The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict has even filed a petition to cancel its registration as well as the Gabriela Women’s Party before the Commission on Elections. But they did not back down.
“It is what encouraged me [to join Kabataan Partylist], that I don’t have to be within the four walls of the Church to serve. I was also taught the importance of reaching out to the poor because Christ’s mission was and will always be for the oppressed."
Raoul Manuel, 27, is the first nominee of Kabataan Partylist, the youth representation in Congress. The youth partylist is among the progressive groups which are being accused of being fronts of the underground revolutionary groups.
Through the years, the progressive party-lists under the Makabayan bloc have remained critical of government policies and other issues concerning the marginalized population. A number of the bills they authored and sponsored have become laws that benefit the Filipino people.
“We believe that schools are the safest place for learning, but the criminal negligence of the Duterte regime has kept them closed for more than a year."
“We will continue to serve the people, we will continue to fight for a just and prosperous society. It is time for the opposition to unite, unite with the people to end Duterte’s tyranny and dynasty.” -- Neri Colmenares, Makabayan senatorial candidate
“It is the youth that has been victimized from this failed flexible learning. Yet, they are being called ‘confused’ for the struggles they have to contend with.”
“It would be a long process especially if the child and parents have opposing political views but the important thing is for these children to never get tired of calmly talking to their parents. Being patient and humble with them in reminding them the reason why we became activists in the first place."
SC Associate Justice Marvic Leonen said that it is “best for this tribunal to decline this importuning for a fishing expedition and dismiss the present Protest.”
“To fight for health, aid, education, jobs and justice now is a matter of survival amid the pandemic, and the climate and human rights emergencies. To strengthen our unity and act now against all forms of abuse, discrimination and tyranny is our assertion for a better future."
“We are confident that this junking will set a precedent, and show that we are innocent of all the trumped-up charges, slander, and redtagging propaganda levelled at us by Duterte and his fascist cohorts.”
The National Union of Peoples Lawyers (NUPL), counsel for Anakbayan, lambasted the NTF-ELCAC “for capitalizing on a familial conflict and turning it into a witch-hunt for members of Anakbayan and the Kabataan Partylist, which are legitimate organizations advancing the Filipino youth’s aspirations for national democracy.”
Despite relentless harassment and vilification by the military and police throughout the campaign period up to election day last May 13, the progressive parties obtained a total of 2,236,155 votes which qualify them for six seats in the 18th Congress.
“We should continue to oppose these forms of suppression on people’s rights, as well as efforts of Duterte and his ilk to establish a full-blown dictatorship.”
“This puts into question whether the five nominees of Duterte Youth are honest nominees from the start or just dummies put in place by their masters.”
Aside from the free public education, included in their agenda are decent jobs for the youth and the people; improved healthcare and other social services; clean and affordable energy, water and utilities; increased awareness and focus on mental health; better telecommunications and internet; good governance and youth empowerment; promotion of democratic rights in and out of campuses; gender equality and end to discrimination and environmental preservation and climate action.
“Our diligent study of history and our present experiences have proven that martial law has done no good to the youth or to the Filipino people in general.”
“It’s high time the people get to have a voice in the Senate.”
“As CHED has confessed, it limits free education beneficiaries so as to prevent exodus from private schools and to ensure enrollees and profits for private schools.”
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