MANILA – Hustisya, an organization of victims of human rights violations, on Monday said Manila should take concrete actions to address country’s woes and poverty, instead of discouraging public protests due to the mounting dissatisfaction on President Aquino’s administration.
The Philippines on Monday held a nationwide prayer for calamity victims.
Hustisya also reacted to a government statement that the nation should focus on praying and laying down concrete actions instead of going out of the streets.
“Concrete actions will not come down from heaven. Instead of downplaying protests, Malacañang should answer what are their concrete steps in addressing the grievances of the people,” Cristina Guevarra, Hustisya Secretary-General, said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
She said their group would also join future protests against power rate hikes, among other issues.
“As the old saying goes, nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa. The power rate hike is unjust for the people who faced calamities one after another. Kung pahirap sa mga tao ang matataas na presyo, tapos sasabihin ng Malacañang na wala silang magagawa, mas lalo lang nila binibigyan ng mas mabigat na dahilan ang taumbayan na magprotesta (If the people are burdened by high prices, and Malacañang said they can’t do anything with it, they are giving them bigger reasons to protest),” said Guevarra.
Hustisya also expressed its support for actions calling for justice for victims of Yolanda and the earthquakes in the Visayas. According to the group, they continue to suffer double because of gross incompetence of the Aquino administration.
“With or without the help of the government, victims of calamities are rebuilding their lives, their homes and livelihood. They deserve justice and much-needed rehabilitation,” Guevarra said.
The group, however, said that they have one prayer today.
“We pray that those in power who pass on the blame to the victims, who do not render justice to them, and who make the people suffer from their incompetence and injustice, be made accountable. We pray that they better go,” Guevarra said.
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