About 100 members of the Negrenses for Corona Removal (N4CR), many dressed in yellow, gathered Saturday in front of the Fountain of Justice at Araneta Street, Bacolod City, to mark the 26th Anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, and to call for the resignation or ouster of Chief Justice Renato Corona.
“If Corona Acquit…Gloria Fly, Ampatuan Run” and “Let us unite for truth and justice. Remove Corona” were among the messages on the streamers and placards of the group.
They lit candles, flashed the Laban sign and waved yellow buntings as they sang “Bayan Ko”, the anthem popularized during the protests that led to the People Power Revolution 26 years ago.
Omon Maravalla, who read the N4CR manifesto at the start of their program, said that 26 years ago, the Filipino people demonstrated at EDSA that there is no greater power than the might of an awakened, committed and vigilant people, who, through their massive yet peaceful actions, ended long years of tyranny and oppression by the Marcos dictatorship.
“At this time, the Filipino people are once again summoned to recall and to work in order to realize the quest and meaning of Edsa --- the advancement of the people’s democratic rights, social reform and good governance, and citizens’ empowerment,” the statement added.
Edsa promised a new era of public governance based in the tenets of truth, social and environmental justice, accountability, and the integrity of public service as had been enshrined in the 1987 Constitution, it said.
“Yet, more than 20 years after, such dreams and values, remain elusive or worse, have been subverted by several regimes especially during the time of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Her public legitimacy and moral ascendancy was shattered by the massive electoral fraud that infected the 2004 presidential polls, and her dubious if not illegitimate stay in power until 2010 was one of political survival, marked by rampant charges of graft and corruption, human rights violations, and the slow pace of social and governance reforms,” the manifesto said.
The election of President Benigno Aquino III in 2010 through a massive mandate only shows thee people’s fervent hopes and struggles to realize the dream of Edsa, it added.
The N4CR called on Negrenses to advance the democratic gains of the EDSA People Power Revolution by letting their voices be heard in the ongoing impeachment process, and to work steadfastly for truthful, just and accountable governance
“Corona had lied and lied repeatedly by not disclosing in his SALN his wide array of luxurious properties and houses, and millions of pesos in banks which are beyond his salary as a public official, and as well as his apparent partiality to GMA,” the statement said.
GMA and her cohorts, including Corona, have betrayed the very dream and values of EDSA, and must be held to account, the N4CR said.
Other speakers at the gathering were Andrea Si, Andy Hagad, Edwin Balajadia, Roque Hofileña, Bernaldo Eres, Jemhra Rose Garcia, Romy Castillo, Ma. Joy Jarabelo and Ma. Theresa Lozada.*CPG back
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