MANILA, Philippines – Sinabi ni Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) president Renato Reyes na ang mga grupo sa likod ng kaguluhan sa Mendiola ay hindi kaanib ng kanilang grupong BAYAN at sa mga progresibong grupo na noong Linggo sa Maynila ay nagsagawa ng mga anti-corruption rallies bunsod ng maling paggamit ng bilyun-bilyong piso para sa flood control projects.
Inilabas ni Reyes ang pahayag matapos na marami ang nasugatan at mahigit 10 menor de edad ang naaresto matapos magbato ng mga malalaking bato at bote sa mga anti-riot police sa Ayala at Mendiola area malapit sa Malacañang.
Sinabi ng pinuno ng BAYAN na siya mismo ay nasaktan sa pangyayari.
“Currently at the ER, bloodied after being hit by a rock in Mendiola. The Bayan program had ended, we were already leaving via organized dispersal when a commotion broke out in Mendiola. Stones were being thrown, and I got hit in the face,” saad ni Reyes.
“The people who stayed in Mendiola were angry, years of pent-up anger. We don’t know who the groups were. They’re not affiliated with BAYAN. But we could sense their anger. And even after we ended the program, they stayed on,” dagdag niya.
“They could be provocateurs, or they could just be really angry at what is happening. At the end of this day, the government cannot ignore the problem of corruption and give so-so responses. Kumukulo ang galit ng tao. Huwag maliitin ng gobyerno,” ani parin niya. RNT/MND
