The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers said that the case of John Griefen Arlegui and Reynaldo Viernes “underscores the dangerous trend of using fabricated criminal charges as a tool to suppress progressive political candidates and their supporters.”
Even during a calamity or health emergency, Bishop Reuel Marigza, general secretary of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, said that compassion and human dignity should be at the heart of government officials carrying out relief operations.
"They threatened to stop our community kitchen if we will continue with the protests and placards. Will these police officers feed us?"
"i’m really sorry i don’t normally put that stuff out here but nanginginig ako sa galit and they need to be set free and the faster we can get this done the better."
"The people are getting hungry. The answer to their fervent wish is simple. And yet they were violently dispersed and arrested all because this gathering is prohibited?"
Most of the breadwinners in their village earn a living either as construction workers or market vendors.
Wawa 1 is one of the “Direct Impact Areas” affected by Bacoor’s “Green and Blue Network” reclamation program, which will cover a 320-hectare space aimed at “attract[ing] economic development” in the city. Specifically, Wawa 1 is the proposed site of a “river walk” which will threaten to displace the residents in the area.
“They are making us miserable. We have been deprived of food and now we are the bad ones. We are not criminals, we just want to earn a living so that we could feed our families.”
Amid the calls to “stay at home” and “work at home,” an urban poor group said thousands of Filipinos do not have roofs over their heads in the first place.
“The fear of getting caught and arrested during clearing operations has always been there. I have always felt the discrimination, not just because I am a Muslim woman, but because I am poor and without a decent job.”
Most of the victims who fell prey to the bloodied claws of tokhang are economic providers in their respective families. Evidently, the result of this senseless war on drugs has exacerbated the already precarious state of poor families in this barangay.
“Urban poor advocates are not spared in this widespread crackdown against progressive organizations. We have to be even more vigilant.”
Notices of demolition were not signed by any judge and were posted a few days before the actual demolition.
"We hope our politicians learn their lessons and look closely at the plight of the poor. We are Filipinos.”
“They have long been trying to divide our ranks and our unity in our struggle. They (pro-government forces) have been convincing our members to leave Kadamay."
“I learned from the process that 'wants' of these urban poor families are what may be considered as 'basic' for those who are considered in the middle class.”
