Kadamay tags Aquino ‘persona non grata,’ condemns the brutality of the Aquino administration to the urban poor

RELEASE I AUGUST 31, 2011

MANILA, Philippines--After the residents of Sitio San Roque won over the impending demolition of their homes, another urban poor group in Old Balara has been a victim of the brutality of the Aquino administration to the urban settlers.

This is the statement of Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap, vice chairperson as well as the lead convener of an anti-demolition alliance, Alyansa Kontra Demolisyon. Together with the residents of Sitio San Roque, they march to Quezon Avenue cor EDSA to join the protest against oil overpricing that also turns out as a condemnation protest against the ongoing demolition of houses of Old Balara residents.

“Aquino has never shown sympathy to his marginalized constituents. His Porsche, the land grabbing case versus the farm workers of the Hacienda Luisita, his connivance with the big oil cartels, the extra-judicial killings under his term and his demolition rampage is enough for the urban poor and the marginalized Filipino to consider him ‘persona non grata,’ the Kadamay leader says.

“Staring this day, he should think twice before entering any slum area, that he has always wanted to get rid off,” he adds.

“Does he care about the children, the aged and the women whom his agencies have physically hurt and robbed of their homes for the sake of the big businessmen like the Ayala and others?,” Badion asks.

“Does he care whenever the oil companies increase the price of petroleum, and how his poor constutents can barely make ends meet due to high prices of foods and basic commodities? Does he care at all?”

Aquino is on a business trip to China expecting to bring home new investment portfolio that will only mean, according to Badion, demolitions of more homes and massive land grabbing in the country side. "He is obviously worse than Arroyo looking at his treatment to the urban poor," the leader says.

“As long as his penchant for neoliberal and anti-poor policies remain as the frameworks of his development programs, he can never lead the millions of poor Filipinos out of poverty,” Badion ends.

Reference: Carlito Badion, Kadamay National Vice Chair (09393873736)