Fil-Ams in Los Angeles stage protest vs Aquino's SONA

Filipino-American activists on Monday staged a protest against President Benigno Aquino III’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), lamenting over human rights abuses under his administration. Questioning many of Aquino’s supposed achievements, some 30 Fil-Ams held their protest in front of the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles. “We can’t afford another year of how Aquino is running the country," said Kuusela Hilo, vice chairperson for Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) USA, according to an article on Asian Journal. She said Aquino’s SONA was “a big disappointment" especially because he “failed to address the real problems going on in the country." “Under him, there have been many more victims of trafficking and he still has not prosecuted former President [Gloria] Arroyo’s past human rights abuses," she added. Daya Mortel, Bayan USA Southwest regional coordinator, added Aquino has so far failed to fulfill his promises to end extreme poverty and the lack of jobs in the Philippines. “Aquino made many promises during his campaign and he has failed to live up to them," she said. Human rights abuses? The protesters held signs that read “Stop Human Rights Abuses Under Aquino," and chanted, “Noynoy you can’t hide. We charge you with genocide." During the rally, protesters performed a play mocking the Aquino administration. At one point they confronted a consulate official taking pictures of the crowd. Hilo said it is time the Filipino people rise up and demand change from the current administration. “According to human rights groups, Aquino has already failed. Our community can’t afford another year of this, our families can’t afford this," she said. For his part, Fil-Am Apollo Victoria narrated his visit to political prisoner Ericson Acosta at the Samar sub-provincial jail. Victoria said Acosta, a University of the Philippines graduate, was documenting the plight of farm workers in the Visayas earlier this year when military officials arrested and accused him of being a rebel leader. “Ericson was arrested in February and to this day is detained without being formally charged with anything," said Victoria. He added Acosta’s arrest is just one of many human rights abuses under Aquino. “Aquino wants to talk about human rights but cases like Ericson’s slip through the cracks, and he doesn’t do anything about it," he said. — JE, GMA News