Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The left-wing Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) on Tuesday called for the prosecution and jailing of President Benigno Aquino III after his term ends on June 30 for his “sins” against the people.
In a “Walk of Shame” protest march to Mendiola, Bayan members carried placards on major issues that have plagued the government over the past six years.
They also displayed mock ups of jail grills carried by protesters wearing masks of Aquino’s face and those of other Cabinet officials like Budget Secretary Butch Abad, Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman and Transportation Secretary Jun Abaya.
One placard read “Remember Mamasapano” and another “Remember MRT Bulok.” They refer to two of the biggest problems that critics of Aquino say he has failed to address during his administration.
“Gusto po natin ipaalala sa lahat yung malalaking kasalanan ng gobyernong Aquino sa mamamayang Pilipino nitong nakalipas na anim na taon,” Bayan Chairperson Mong Palatino said.
[Translation: We want to remind everyone of the sins of the Aquino government to the Filipino people over the past six years.]
The group condemned Aquino for the Disbursement Acceleration Program, alleged neglect on the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda, the Mamasapano carnage, commuter woes, and traffic congestion in Metro Manila.
“Dapat po panagutin, kasuhan, at ikulong itong si Noynoy Aquino at ang kanyang mga kasamahan sa pamahalaan para sa mga kasalanang kanilang ginawa,” Palatino said.
[Translation: Noynoy Aquino and members of his government should be held accountable and be put behind bars for the wrongs they have committed.]
Presidential Spokesman Sonny Coloma defended the record of the administration, saying Filipinos now “hold their heads up high” because the Philippines has become “Asia’s rising star” under Aquino’s leadership.
“More than 1.4 million families or more than 7 million Filipinos have risen above the poverty threshold. More migrant Filipinos are now choosing to return to their homeland,” Coloma said. “President Aquino has established the foundations of good governance where transparency and public accountability are the norms.”
A recent survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) indicated net satisfaction with the Aquino administration dropped 4 percentage points at the end of the first quarter this year from 39% percent in December. Net satisfaction is the difference between number of those satisfied and those dissatisfied with the national government.
The 35 percent net satisfaction rating is still considered “Good” by the SWS.
The survey polled 1,500 adults nationwide from March 30 to April 2 in face-to-face interviews. It has sampling error margins of ±3% for national percentages.
