‘Bagong Pilipinas’ a ‘sham, deodorizer,’ groups say
Progressive groups have denounced the President’s “Bagong Pilipinas” campaign as a “sham and a distraction” from the country’s problems as they accused him of failing to address poverty and corruption while pushing for Charter change (Cha-cha).
The Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses to Malacañang (Carmma) said in a statement on Monday that Sunday’s kickoff rally for the governance brand held at the Quirino Grandstand was a “cheap publicity stunt” and a “desperate” attempt to pursue selfish interests.
“While they say this Bagong Pilipinas slogan is a ‘call to action’ for change and development, the Marcos administration continues to ignore the people’s calls for genuine change,” said Carmma.
Women’s rights group Gabriela, on the other hand, said that Cha-cha was part of the agenda in the Bagong Pilipinas rally. “Let’s not be deceived and fooled, the people’s money was even used to launch public perfumery,” Gabriela secretary general Clarice Palce cautioned the public.
The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas expressed a similar sentiment as it called the campaign a “deodorizer” or a cover-up of the government’s failures.
Brewing word war
The group’s secretary general, Ronnie Manalo, warned people against trusting the promises of the Marcos administration and urged citizens to be critical. “Filipinos must remain vigilant amid the brewing word war, contradictions between Marcos and Duterte camps,” he said, referring to the supposed rift between the two political families over several issues, including the International Criminal Court’s investigation of former President Rodrigo Duterte over his drug war.
For fisherfolk group Pamalakaya (Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas), Filipinos needed “concrete steps to address the economic crises such as inflation and the loss of lives and livelihood due to environmental destruction, not a superficial rebranding.”
In his speech at the kickoff rally, the President dismissed speculations that the campaign was “a political vehicle meant to cater to the interest of a few.”
