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VIGAN CITY,‭ ‬Ilocos Sur‭ – ‬Militant groups of Ilocos Sur led by ANAKBAYAN,‭ ‬KARATULA,‭ ‬NUSP,‭ ‬CEGP,‭ ‬STOP Exploitation and Ilocos Human Rights Alliance‭ (‬IHRA-KARAPATAN‭)‬,‭ ‬held a protest march around Vigan City four hours before Noynoy Aquino’s‭ ‬2nd State of the Nation Address‭ (‬SONA‭)‬.
Pointing out that after a year in the palace,‭ “‬Noynoy fails to address the basic problems of the people,‭ ‬the rising poverty and joblesssness,‭ ‬alarming state of human rights and education,‭ ‬and landlessness of farmers continue to distress the people,‭” ‬they said.

The groups marched with Higantes figures of the President Benigno S.‭ ‬Aquino III and former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo,‭ ‬to demonstrate‭ “‬that there is really no difference between the two regimes.‭ ‬They both lack in political will in addressing the problems of the people.‭”

The march culminated at he the Plaza Burgos where participants held a program where speakers took turns to present sectoral issue.‭ ‬They have also invited the people‭ “‬to join them and participate and be part of the people’s movement for genuine change‭”‬.

The groups also called for the immediate release of Gloria Floresca,‭ ‬a former peasant leader and an organizer of the women’s group GABRIELA.‭ ‬Floresca was arrested in her home in Naguillian,‭ ‬La Union.‭ ‬The grandmother was accused as the third most wanted criminal in Region‭ ‬1.# nordis.net