PROGRESSIVE AND MULTI-SECTORAL groups took to Commonwealth Avenue on July 28 for the People’s SONA, calling for accountability from the Marcos-Duterte administration as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivered his 2025 State of the Nation Address.
Among the focal issues raised during the demonstration were the recent overturn of the impeachment bid filed against incumbent Vice President Sara Duterte, the imposition of United States tariffs, the government’s inadequate flood prevention efforts that worsened the impact of recent typhoons, and the non-passage of the ₱200 wage hike bill.
In an interview with The Bedan, several of the advocacy leaders provided a comprehensive account of the grievances and unmet responsibilities of the Philippine government.
Danilo Ramos, Chairperson of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), called out the issues in land reform as being twofold: first is the necessity of strengthening the local production of staple food such as rice and corn, alongside significant government subsidies provided to farmers.
Ramos also called out initiatives that endangered activists, journalists, and other groups, usually through the practice of red tagging.
“Repeal Executive Order no. 70 at ang Anti-Terrorism Law of 2020, buwagin ang NTF-ELCAC [National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict], zero budget sa 2026,” he voiced.
Notably, the NTF-ELCAC has garnered notoriety as the center of red-tagging content, with instances depicting members of progressive groups such as the Makabayan being in support of an armed movement.
On a different front, Leodegario “Ka Leody” Quitain de Guzman, Chairperson of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) and 2022 Presidential Race candidate, highlighted the urgency of a wage hike for Filipino workers.
Moreover, considering the dismissed impeachment trial complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, he warned of the Supreme Court’s ruling of deeming the case unconstitutional.
“Tingin ko mali ‘yun dahil salungat ‘yun sa kagustuhan ng halos 85% ng sambayanang Pilipino batay sa survey na naghahangad na magkaroon ng trial,” he said.
De Guzman further expressed that the law of the people should trump standing technicalities, saying, “Ang makapangyarihang batas ay ‘yung kagustuhan ng mga mamamayan, pero ngayon para bang pinalalabas na dinadala sa teknikal.”
Meanwhile, on tariff talks, with Donald Trump, President of the United States’, recent announcement that the Philippines will trade a 19% tariff with the US—as the Philippines will be an open market starting August 1, 2025—BMP President Atty. Renecio Luke Espiritu conveyed strong disdain, concluding that the trade agreement will put an end to the country’s local production.
“Nagsimula tayo na 17% lang ang tariff. Tinaas ni Trump ng 20. Binabaan niya ng 1%. Naging 19 pa rin. Pagtataas pa rin ‘yun. From 17% to 19%,” Atty. Espiritu said.
He later questioned the president’s positive claims surrounding the tariff developments, noting that the US is not an ally of the Philippines, further claiming that the Philippines is being used against China for political advantage.
Atty. Espiritu had also attributed his contentions on the tariff developments to the sanctity of the Philippines’ sovereignty, stating, “We don’t even protect our own sovereignty. That is treacherous. That is betrayal of Philippine interests.”
Meanwhile, Atty. Neri Colmenares, a veteran human rights lawyer and activist, weighed in on the Marcos-Duterte rift, noting that public discourse tends to focus solely on the controversies surrounding Sara Duterte, while overlooking Marcos Jr.’s role in the issue.
Despite frictions in public discourse, Atty. Colmenares and Atty. Espiritu envision hope brought by the Filipino youth.
The latter asserted that the workers and the needy’s hardships discourage them from standing for change as they feel defeated and hopeless.
“Ang kabataan lang ang merong kakayanan ngayon na magsalita at tumindig. At i-constitute ang sarili nila bilang progressive social force para igiit ang pagbabago,” Atty. Espiritu advises.
Atty. Colmenares echoed these sentiments as he invigorates the youth to fight against the persistent corruption in the country for the sake of their future.
“Kayo na mga kabataan, dapat igiit natin na ang accountability at [ang] pagrespeto sa karapatan ay tungkulin ng isang gobyerno… After all, it is your future that is mainly at stake here.”