(By Ellicia Del Mundo)
Thousands of rallyists from various militant groups gathered in Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City to raise their grievances ahead of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.’s first State of the Nation (SONA) on Monday, July 25.
In a report from RH Boy Gonzales on DZRH's SONA Special Coverage, a mini protest program was conducted by progressive groups such as Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU).
In an interview, Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes said they expect Marcos to address the main problems that the nation is currently facing.
Some of the issues they raised are economic crisis, human rights violation, corruption, sovereignty, and historical revisionism of the Marcos family.
Several effigies like “Mad in Malacañang” which depicts President Marcos with a birthday hat together with his father late president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and mother former first lady Imelda Marcos, were destroyed after the program.
Quezon City local government last Friday granted Bayan a permit to rally, it allowed the group to march from Elliptical Road along Commonwealth Ave. to Tandang Sora from 9 am to 12nn only.
Bayan originally requested to hold the protest on Batasan Road, near the venue of Marcos' state address. The Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS) rejected Bayan’s application for a permit to rally.
The Batasan Road was given to Marcos supporters for their gathering and mini concert.
