Progressive groups swarmed the Senate gate on Monday, June 9, to call for the amendment of the Universal Healthcare (UHC) Law and the PHP 200 wage hike.
RH 28 Raymund Dadpaas reported that the groups marched from the Manila Film Center in Pasay City to the Senate on early Monday. Protesters called out the government body on various issues, including the wage hike and the UHC Law.
According to the report, protesters urged the Senate to prioritize programs under PhilHealth. People were seen holding signs with, “Equity sa PhilHealth palakasin, mamamayan konsultahin,” and “PhilHealth sagipin, benepisyo ng mahirap palakasin.”
Other groups are also expected to troop to the Senate on Monday, urging the government body to begin Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.
Meanwhile, the report mentioned Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero would hold a press conference on the various issues that groups are protesting. He would also address the delay in VP Duterte’s impeachment trial.
“Inatasan ko na si Sergeant at Arms na tiyakin na magiging ligtas [ang] lahat ng makikilahok sa mapayapang pag protestang ito na ginagalang—siyempre at nirerespeto namin dahil karapatan nila ‘yan sa ilalim ng Saligang Batas,” Escudero said during a press conference.
“Pero pinatitiyak ko na kasabay non ay hindi kami makakaapekto sa mga motoristang dadaan sa Diokno, gayun din sa mga empleyado’t bisita na pupunta, papasok, at lalabas ng Senado,” he added.
As of writing, there is also no information on whether Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa filed a resolution on the outright dismissal of the impeachment complaint against the Vice President.
The report also mentioned that Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino stated that the Vice President’s impeachment trial can be completed in the remaining 19 days of the 19th Congress if the trial proceeds every day.
