Relatives of political detainees and other victims of human rights violations, including the mother of detained OFW Mary Jane Veloso, staged a militant version of Flores de Mayo yesterday at the Plaza Miranda, Quiapo, Manila.
Hustisya, a national organization of victims of different forms of political repression, led the event “Flowers for Freedom and Justice” featuring 11 archs bedecked with flowers and calls to end injustice.
“Kakaibang Flores de Mayo ang idinadaos natin ngayon. Sa pagtatapos ng buwan, itinatanghal natin ang ating mga panawagan para sa paglaya at hustisya. Hawak natin ang pumpon ng mga bulaklak alay sa mga kinitlan ng buhay at karapatan, sa mga pinagkaitan ng pag-asa,” said Hustisya secretary general Ma. Cristina Guevarra.
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Instead of beauty pageant hopefuls, children participated as sagala and konsorte including the daughter of former political detainee Kim Gargar, a niece of revolutionary martyr Recca Noelle Monte, a niece of desaparecido Joseph Gile, a granddaughter of former political detainee and desaparecido Nicasio Roxas, a granddaughter of another desaparecido Leopoldo Ancheta, and sons of former detainees known as Morong 43 health workers.
The two sons of Mary Jane, Mark Daniel and Mark Darren, represented the arch “Iligtas at Palayain si Mary Jane Veloso.” Holding the arch were her parents, Celia and Cesar.
Three of the archs demanded for the release of Ma. Miradel Torres, Guiller Cadano, Gerald Salonga, and NDF consultants.
“Umabot na sa 527 ang mga bilanggong pulitikal sa Pilipinas. Ang sabi ng Malacañang, walang bilanggong pulitikal. Pero mahigit 700 na ang iligal na inaresto sa ilalim ng gobyernong Aquino,” Guevarra revealed.
Miradel was four months pregnant when she was arrested in Lucena City, Quezon last year. She is currently detained at the Taguig City Jail with her son Baby Karl. Guiller and Gerald, graduates of University of the Philippines, Pampanga, were abducted and are now detained at BJMP San Jose City, Nueva Ecija.
Hustisya offered flowers for the 72 workers who were burned to death at the Kentex factory in Valenzuela two weeks ago. The group also demanded to surface desaparecidos, end extrajudicial killings, and junk Oplan Bayanihan.
Batang Makabayan, a group of children from an urban poor community in Sampaloc, performed during the event.