CPP/Ang Bayan: Protests against the Anti-Ter­ro­rism Bill

Propaganda article from the Tagalog language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Jun 21, 2020): Protests against the Anti-Ter­ro­rism Bill

ANG BAYAN
JUNE 21, 2020

“This is a maña­ni­ta, not a rally”

Coordinated mass protest actions, dubbed “mañanitas,” were mounted last June 12 in Met­ro Ma­ni­la and 14 provinces to oppose the Anti-Ter­ro­rism Bill. The protests actions were an outright act of defiance to the Malacañang’s ban on rallies. Protesters called their protest a “mañanita” as a sarcastic reference to the birthday feast by the police in the Na­tio­nal Ca­pi­tal Re­gi­on for their chief De­bold Si­nas last May. The protest was held in conjunction with the commemoration of the 122th Philippine Independence Day. Majority of the participants were from the youth sector.

More than 5,000 converged at the campus of the Univer­sity of the Phi­lip­pi­nes (UP) in Di­li­man, Quezon City to conduct a “Grand Maña­ni­ta.” Similar to a birthday celebration, protesters wore party hats, brought balloons, food and cakes containing the call “Junk Anti-Ter­ror Bill.” There were songs, dances, speeches and cultural performances.

The rally in UP was spearheaded by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and its allied organizations of workers, youth, women, health workers, government employees, urban poor and others. Public figures such as those from the Liberal Party and other organizations, as well as famous artists and cultural performers participated in the protest.

According to Bayan Muna chairperson Neri Colmenares, the Anti-Terror Bill is dangerous because it can be used against ordinary civilians who criticize or post express their sentiments against the regime.

Before the protest, the police set up a checkpoint at the entrance of the university in an attempt to stop participants from going in. Anticipating this, protesters organized a team of lawyers to defend those who would be arrested. Health workers also stood by to ensure that Covid-19 preventive measures are observed by protesters.

The protesters strictly maintained a meter distance from each other. Face masks, face shields and alcohol were also distributed during the mass action. The program ended after three hours.

Protesters pointed out that while the rally is directed against the Anti-Terrorism Bill, it also aimed to hold the regime accountable for its inetpness to ensure the health and and welfare of the people amid the Covid-19 pandemic. They called for mass testing, tracing and va­li­da­ti­on of Covid-19 cases, distribution of emergency aid, and for freedom and democracy.

Among the highlights of the rally was the speech of Marie Dinglasan, an sari-sari store vendor who trended on social media for posting a video criticizing Duterte and bravely responding to Duterte’s trolls who tagged her as an “NPA supporter.” The program also featured a performance by theater actress Mae Paner who dressed as Debold Sinas, and the collective dance and singing of the jingle parody “Don’t call me te­ro­ris­ta (a terrorist).”

Before the “Grand Maña­ni­ta,” protests were also conducted at the De La Sal­le Univer­sity in Manila and at Sitio San Roque, Ba­ra­ngay Pag-a­sa, Quezon City.

DID YOU KNOW?

“MAÑANITA” (which means “little tomorrow” in Spanish) is a surprise serenade to awaken a birthday celebrant early in the morning or at the crack of dawn. It is being practiced in various parts of the Philippines and has become a tradition wherein families gather to mark the start of a birthday. In Min­danao, a particular ma­ña­­ni­ta song entitled “Malipa­yong Adlaw” is often sang by Red fighters for their comrades who celebrate their birthdays. The was written and popularized by Agaw-Armas.

Across the country, numerous activists and youth groups took to the streets and rallied against the Anti-Ter­ror Bill.

Ba­guio. One hundred individuals protested at UP Ba­guio. Earlier on June 3, 62 youth organizations signed a petition against the Anti-Ter­ror Bill. The petition signing was led by the Youth Act Now Aga­inst Tyranny-Ba­guio-Be­ngu­et.

Nueva Vizca­ya. Anti-mining and environmental advocates and residents of Di­di­pio, Ka­si­bu conducted a protest action in their community.

Isa­be­la. The police stopped se­veral students from holding a program at a school in San­tia­go, Isa­be­la. They were told to take pictures instead, and immediately disperse.
Pam­pa­nga. Five activists were tailed and interrogated by police agents after participating in a program at the Plaza Mi­ran­da in Ange­les City.

Albay and Na­ga. The Youth Act Now-Albay spearheaded a protest at the Pi­nag­la­ba­nan Mo­nu­ment in Le­gazpi City. According to the Jus­ti­ne Me­si­as, spokesperson of the said alliance, the regime’s Anti-Ter­rorism Bill will only aggravate the plight of the people. Approximately 200 members of Anak­ba­yan-Na­ga City and Ba­yan-Ca­ma­ri­nes Sur also protested at the Plaza Quince Mar­ti­res in Na­ga City.

Neg­ros. Lightning rallies were mounted by the Baco­lod Youth Alli­ance at six spots in Bacolod City including the Rizal Free­dom Park, Baco­lod City Plaza, Foun­ta­in of Jus­tice, San Se­bas­ti­an Cat­hed­ral, local ABS-CBN station, and in front of the office of Cong. Greg Ga­sa­ta­ya. Simultaneously, a protest action was also held by Pag­hi­liu­sa, Li­be­ral Party Neg­ros and the Fe­de­ra­ti­on of Urban Poor in front of the San Se­bas­ti­an Cat­hed­ral to condemn the Anti-Terrorism Bill. That afternoon, similar protest actions were also conducted by Ba­yan and Ka­ra­pa­tan-Neg­ros in front of the Foun­ta­in of Jus­tice.

Iloi­lo. A “maña­ni­ta against terrorism” was held by students and teachers of UP Vi­sa­yas, the church sector and the Com­mis­si­on on Hu­man Rights Re­gi­on 6 in front of the university campus in Iloi­lo.

Ce­bu. With police troops en­camped in front of UP Ce­bu and the refusal of the university administration to recognize the rights of students to assemble in the campus, progressive groups conducted their lightning rallies at the Go­ror­do Ave­nue and Esca­rio Stre­et in Ce­bu at around 6:00 a.m.

Davao. The PASAKA Confe­de­ra­ti­on of Lu­mad Orga­niza­ti­on hosted a program at the UCCP Ha­ran in Davao City which was participated in by 500 evacuees. The participants also conducted a protest action while strictly observing physical distancing. Later that evening, Lumad leaders led a torch lighting ceremony to symbolize their detemination to bring light amid the dark times of tyranny under the Duterte regime, and how this light is further ignited through the people’s struggle.

Da­tu Minstro­so Ma­li­ba­to pointed out: “We are struggling to educate our children but the government is ruthlessly closing down our schools and killing our people.” The group stressed that that the real terrorist is the Duterte government.

Bu­tu­an. A “maña­ni­ta” was also held at the Free­dom Park in Bu­tu­an City.
Youth groups and lawyers also conducted “maña­ni­tas” in Ca­ga­yan de Oro, Du­ma­gue­te, Zam­boa­nga and Bulacan.

[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines and is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and views on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly and is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

https://cpp.ph/2020/06/21/protests-against-the-anti-terrorism-bill/