Makabayan solons’ protest items of clothing barred from SONA, confiscated

Kabataan Representative Sarah Elago (third from left) and guests at the Batasang Pambansa for President Duterte's SONA on July 22, 2019. Elago's guests' sashes were confiscated.

Members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) allegedly barred and confiscated items of clothing bearing symbols and words of protest that lawmakers from the Makabayan Bloc and their guests were supposed to wear during President Rodrigo Duterte's fourth State of the Nation Address on Monday.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Kabataan party-list Representative Sarah Elago said she and her guests were wearing sashes during the SONA calling for national sovereignty and justice for the victims of drug-related killings.

Gabriela Representative Arlene Brosas' fan was also barred from the SONA.

Elago said that one of her guests, the child of a Manila Bay fisherman, was wearing a sash bearing the words "People and Planet over Profit" to oppose the projects being undertaken in the body of water. But this was confiscated by the PSG, she said.

Another was wearing a sash calling for an end to unjust killings, only for it to be confiscated by security.

"Dalawang sash 'yun na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa nababalik sa Kabataan," Elago said.

"Dito pa lang sa Kongreso, kitang-kita natin kung paano tinatanggalan ng boses kapag magpapahayag at magpapakita yung ating mga kabataan ng kanilang panawagan, paano pa kaya sa labas ng Kongreso?" she added.

In a separate statement, Elago's political affairs officer Thalia Villela said the PSG even tried to confiscate the youth lawmaker's sash.

"Originally pati 'yun hinarang at muntik na hindi masuot kasi ayaw talaga ipapasok, Pero dumiskarte na lang kami kaya nasuot pa rin sa red carpet," she said.

Gabriela Women's Party Representative Arlene Brosas also said she was not allowed to bring her fan inside.

"Yung pamaypay ko rin ay ayaw papasukin kung saan noong SONA ay nagdala tayo ng pamaypay para ipanawagan yung call na 'Serbisyo sa tao, huwag gawing negosyo,'" she said.

Bayan Muna Party-list Representative Ferdinand Gaite showed the barong he was going to wear during the SONA if he had not been barred by the PSG from doing so.

Bayan Muna Party-list Representative Ferdinand Gaite shows the barong he was supposed to wear. "May martial law rin pala sa House of Representatives," he said.

"Apparently, may martial law rin pala dito sa loob ng House of Representatives. Nung huli kong binasa, may freedom of expression, walang martial law dito supposedly pero hindi lang pala sa Mindanao may declared martial law," Gaite said.

"Panawagan pa rin namin na 'yung laya ng mga mamamayan na magpahayag, dapat kinikilala at nirerespeto," he added.

Lawmakers and other attendees have used their SONA outfits to make political statements over the years. In 2014, members of the Makabayan bloc wore peach to President Benigno S. Aquino's SONA, signifying their desire to see him impeached.

In 2013, then-Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares wore a barong with a hand-painted design stating, "Junk VFA."  — BM, GMA News