Washington DC–Today, members of the Filipino community in the DC metropolitan area gathered for their own People’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) in front of the Philippine Embassy. The Tunay Na SONA DC Committee organized the event as a show of solidarity to those in the Philippines who are opposing an extension in President Arroyo’s reign of power. This is the first of several nationwide activities being organized by a range of US based groups leading up to the official visit of President Arroyo to the US.
“Of utmost concern to us are the maneouvers Arroyo has made that could extend her term beyond the 2010 elections,”
said Dan Jimenez of the Tunay Na SONA DC Committee. “No amount of PR or spin can cover up the simple fact the everyday reality the majority of Filipinos are living has worsened since she has become President.”
According to Dante Simbulan, Adviser of Katarungan: Center for Peace, Justice and Human Rights in the Philippines, “Actions speak louder than words. Her eight years as President showed us how insincere and dangerous she truly is. For what kind of person addresses the grinding poverty the majority face by allowing a select few to amass great wealth? What kind of person tries to remedy the crisis of political legitimacy she has faced by trying to eradicate all of his or her critics?”
The organizers of the DC People’s SONA also used the event to inform the DC public about the upcoming White House meeting of President Arroyo and US President Obama.
“During his campaign, President Obama said he would meet with any world leader, friend or foe, without preconditions. In President Arroyo’s case, I guess he is willing to meet with even the powerhungry, bloodthirsty, and corrupt. We only hope that President Obama will show the same courage Melissa Roxas has and bring up the issue of human rights even as he tries to secure committments that promote US interests,” said Katrina Abarcar of Katarungan.
“The recent abduction and torture of US citizen Melissa Roxas show that even concerned Americans of Filipino descent are not exempt from human rights violations in the Philippines. President Obama has said categorically that under his administration, the US will not torture and will not compromise its ideals to fight terrorism. It would make sense to hold US allies who receive US tax dollars in the form of aid by the same standard,” said Joanna Quiambao of Katarungan.
“On December 10 of 2008, Washington DC became the first human rights city in the US. We are putting that into practice by raising questions when known human rights violators come to town. In the case of the Philippines, this is especially fitting as those bearing the brunt of human rights 
violations in DC and the Philippines are experiencing the same problems of poverty, joblessness, homelessness, and lack of democratic representation in government,” ended Ms. Quiambao.
Katarungan will be organizing and participating in actions starting at 11am in front of the White House on July 30. Aside from the Katarungan protest, the Columban Office for Advocacy and Outreach will be organizing a prayer vigil at noon. The prayer vigil is being co-sponsored by the Ecumenical Advocacy Network on the Philippines, the Episcopal Church, the Methodist Federation for Social Action, the Peace with Justice Program, General Board of Church and Society, United Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church USA-Washington DC Office, the United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries, the Migrant Heritage Commission, the New York Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines, and Katarungan: Center for Peace, Justice and Human Rights in the Philippines. ##