BAYAN: People's SONA a success in showing state of PH

The State of the Nation Address ng Sambayanan (People’s SONA) is a success as several groups were able to voice out their situation, former Bayan Muna congressman Teddy Casiño said on Monday after President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. delivered the fifth SONA of his presidency.

“Kami sa BAYAN ay nagagalak na matuloy ang aming martsa. Hindi umulan, kumpleto ang programa at nakapagpahayag ang iba't ibang sektor ng ating lipunan kaugnay ng tunay na nararanasan nila, kung ano state of the nation sa kanilang pananaw,” Casiño told GMA News Online.

(We at BAYAN are happy that our march pushed through. It did not rain, the program was completed, and different sectors were able to voice out their real experiences, what is the state of the nation for them.)

However, Casiño said 51 individuals were arrested during the protest, held along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, over alleged vandalism.

“Ang nakakalungkot lang ay may hinuling na 51 ng mga protesta ang pulis na hindi naman dapat inaaresto,” he said. “Imposible naman na 51 na katao ang sabay-sabay na mag ba-vandal.”

(It’s saddening that 51 protesters were illegally arrested by the police. It’s impossible that all 51 people engaged in vandalism at the same time.)

He added that some individuals were also barred from participating in the protest.

“But otherwise successful event. Hopefully, dahil sa nangyari ito, naipe-present natin yung dalawang naratibo ng katotohanan. Isa sa loob ng Kongreso at isang nasa labas,” he said.

(But otherwise, the event was successful. Hopefully, with this event, we were able to present the two narrative of the truth. One insde the Congress and one in the outside.)

Detained protesters

After the People’s SONA, Casiño said BAYAN will coordinate with the police over the detained protesters.

Some individuals were arrested and barred from holding a protest along Commonwealth, hours ahead of Marcos's SONA at the Batasan Complex.

Meanwhile, PNP chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the QCPD arrested the 51 individuals for alleged vandalism and wearing balaclavas along Commonwealth Avenue.

In Jun Veneracion’s “24 Oras” report, some individuals were seen painting the walls they passed by.

They were covering their faces, in black clothes, and carrying flags. Tension grew during the arrest and ended with a brawl.

The arrested individuals were then brought to the prison bus of the Bureau of Jail Management.

Another tension broke out after protesters burn what look like a US flag.

QCPD director Police General Randy Silvio said some protesters committed violation and that the prosecutors office will have to assess the filed cases.

But BAYAN expressed the alarm over the manner of the arrest.

Meanwhile, a vehicle with a sticker of the Office of the President was towed after no one removed the vehicle along the Commonwealth Ave. — BM, GMA News