Urban poor group brings rotten flowers, fruits to CGMA

PRESS RELEASE l January 13, 2012
Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (KADAMAY)

QUEZON City—Members of urban poor group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap were barred for the entering the compound Veterans Memorial Medical Center this morning. Their purpose is to visit Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and offer her bouquets of rotten flowers and basket full of rotten fruits.

Carlito Badion, Kadamay national vice-chair said the action is a protest against the public deception made by the Arroyo's camp on the real state of health of the former president.

"Ang mga bulok ng prutas ay mahusay gamot sa nagsasakit-sakitan," he added.

Last January 11, Ma. Elena Bautista-Horn, Mrs. Arroyo's spokesperson said that the ex-president needs to undergo another surgical operation, after a VMMC consultant who happens to be a relative of CGMA advised so.

A day after, the VMMC administration released a statement telling that the hospital has never recommended no surgical operation for the ex-president.

Attached to the militants' presents are cards written with "Get well soon, Mrs. Arroyo! See you in jail!"

Public deception
"Mrs. Arroyo can no longer deceive the urban poor and the people and escape her crimes to the people," Badion said.

Before leaving the hospital ground, the militants held a short program at the North Avenue gate of the VMMC to announce their support to the impeachment case filed against Chief Justice Renato Corona.

"It is crystal-clear that Corona is a midnight appointee during the Arroyo administration, and he is a big hindrance to making Mrs Arroyo accountable. It is a must that he be impeached as the chief justice of the country," Badion said.

Question of sincerity
Also, the group expressed its doubt on the sincerity of President Aquino in accomplishing its promise to the people by making Arroyo accountable for her crimes.

According to Badion, "Aside from the fact that the filing of cases against CGMA is long delayed, we believe that Aquino is using the impeachment case against Corona to cover up his administration's failure in addressing the widespread poverty of his people."

"More than making sure that Arroyo will pay for her crimes, Supreme Court's pro-peasant decision on the Hacienda Luisita land is behind the administration's incessant attacks on the chief justice," Badion added. ###

Reference: Carlito Badion, Kadamay national vice chair (09393873736)