Photo Courtesy of Kamanggagawa Partylist.
City of Manila – Kamanggagawa Partylist Rep. Elijah “Eli” San Fernando personally went to the Manila Police District to extend assistance to the 17 individuals arrested during a protest near Ayala Bridge, where demonstrators were accused of setting a trailer truck on fire.
The lawmaker underscored that the anger that spilled into the streets was not baseless. “We will always defend the people’s right to protest, lalo na kung laban ito sa korapsyon na sumisira sa kinabukasan ng kabataan at sumisipsip sa pera, dugo, at pawis ng manggagawa at ordinaryong Pilipino.”
San Fernando said the outburst of violence must be understood in context. “Ang punto dito ay makatwiran ang pinaglalaban. Mas malaki ang pinsalang dulot ng mga kurakot na Senador at Congressman. Mas maraming namamatay sa korapsyon. Kaya kung galit ang mga Pilipino, tama lang ‘yon. Hindi namin kinukunsinti ang maling gawain, pero dapat nating intindihin.”
San Fernando said the arrests highlight a grave contradiction in Philippine society: “Bakit yung mga kabataan at ordinaryong mamamayan na nagpoprotesta laban sa korapsyon ang hinuhuli, samantalang yung mga pinangalanan mismo ng mga kontraktor, mga opisyal ng gobyerno, pati na si Zaldy Co at Martin Romualdez, malaya pa rin at hindi hinahabol? Bakit mas nauna pang hulihin ‘tong mga nagpoprotesta?”
He argued: “Corruption is violence. It inundates homes, stifles public services, and destroys lives. Ang korapsyon ay kanser ng ating lipunan. Kung walang korapsyon, walang riot. Ang tunay na ugat ng kaguluhan ay ang matinding galit ng taumbayan sa katiwalian.”
San Fernando said the people’s outburst is a direct response to systemic injustice. “Pinapatunayan lang ng pag-aresto sa mga nagprotesta kung gaano kabaluktot ang ating sistema. Ang mga tiwali ay nananatiling ligtas at malaya, habang ang mga nagagalit sa korapsyon ay pinarurusahan ng pagkakakulong. Repression will always breed resistance. And the resistance of the people is always just.”
He added: “You can imprison the rioters now, but more will rise if corruption is not ended. The real solution to ending unrest is not through mass arrests, but through holding the corrupt accountable.”
San Fernando also raised concern over reports of police brutality and arbitrary arrests during the dispersal. “Hindi pwedeng sagutin ng dahas ang hinaing ng taumbayan. Lalu lang magagalit ang taumbayan sa pamahalaan. Ang tungkulin ng pulis ay magprotekta, hindi manupil.”
San Fernando reaffirmed that Kamanggagawa Partylist will ensure due process, provide lawyers, and extend humanitarian assistance to the arrested protesters, while continuing the fight inside and outside Congress for systemic reforms to end corruption.
As of now, almost 70 individuals have already been brought to the Manila Police District, where San Fernando said Kamanggagawa Partylist will also extend assistance to ensure their rights are protected.
Earlier today, San Fernando also joined the anti-corruption protests at Luneta Park, EDSA People Power Monument and Camp Aguinaldo, standing in solidarity with workers and youth who decried the blatant corruption in government.
“Kung seryoso ang gobyerno na tapusin ang riot, tapusin muna ang korapsyon. That is the only permanent solution,” San Fernando concluded.
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