['It's not yet too late for Corona'] Ka Mameng to lead the urban poor in today's protest at the Senate

PRESS RELEASE l 16 JANUARY 2012

PASAY CITY, Philippines--Rally veteran Carmen 'Ka Mameng' Deunida will lead the urban poor and other sectors in the call to impeach Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona. The 83-year old veteran who is an honorary leader of militant urban poor group Kadamay will be speaking in today's big protest at the Senate on the first day of the impeachment trial against the Supreme Court chief justice.

Ka Mameng has been a popular mass leader since the impeachment trial against then President Joseph Estrada and the dark days of the EDSA Dos. Ten years later, Ka Mameng remains the voice of the oppressed and the impoverished Filipinos.

Ka Mameng said, "Malaking tinik si Corona sa tuluyang pagpapanagot at pagpapakulong kay Gloria Arrovo. She challenged the urban poor to take its stand in favor of the impeachment of the chief justice.

Not to late
However, Deunida noted that "by taking pro-poor actions, Corona can easily prove to the people that he is not an Arroyo's bootlicker, and get the upper hand in this political rift."

"Hindi pa huli ang lahat para kay Corona," Ka Mameng said. "By issuing Supreme Court decisions that directly serve the interests of the poor, the Chief Justice will surely earn the sympathy of the wider public," she added.

Nationwide moratorium on demolition
Kadamay, a nationwide organization based in urban poor communities, has called on the Chief Justice to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) on Aquino’s demolition rampage on urban poor communities for the gross human right violation that it entails, as well as on the implementation of RA 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA).

"The Supreme Court can, by its power, stop the violent demolition just like what happened in Corazon de Jesus in San Juan City, and North Triangle in QC," Deunida said.

“He must also act on other pressing issues of the poor including the price hikes, massive unemployment, measly wage of the workers and land reform. We have long been waiting for someone to intervene on the attacks of the Arrovo and Aquino administrations to the urban poor and the people," the veteran stressed.

Lack of sincerity
The group also expressed its doubt on the sincerity of the Aquino administration to fulfill his promise of completely making the former president president accountable.

"Aside from getting back at Corona for the Supreme Court's decision on the disputed 6,500-hectare Luisita land, the impeachment case might just be another popular move of the Aquino administration to cover-up its failure to address the apparent widespread poverty of its people," Deunida said. ###


KALIPUNAN NG DAMAYANG MAHIHIRAP (KADAMAY)
Militant Center of the Urban Poor in the Philippines
REFERENCE: Gloria Arellano, national secretary-general (09213927457)