solon condemns president Aquino's heartless and anti-poor victim blaming

“What a double-faced President Noynoy Aquino is. After he smiled, waved and delivered relief goods to flood victims in evacuation centers, he turned around and ordered the “blasting” of their homes, effectively blaming them as the cause of their own woes amidst the floods,” observed GWP solon Emmi De Jesus on the President’s order to DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson to "blast" the homes of some 125,000 families currently living along Metro Manila waterways and at least 70,000 more in flood-prone areas around Laguna De Bay.

“Stop this victim-blaming and carry the responsibility squarely on your shoulders,” the Gabriela solon chided the President.

“The poor are the most vulnerable casualties of calamities. A deeper analysis of their situation will show that multiple dislocations brought about by anti-poor economic policies of successive administrations pushed them to squeeze into these “informal” spaces in Metro Manila. Majority are victims of incessant land grabbing from landlords, land conversion and uneven economic development in the country sides. Relocated “informal settlers” meanwhile, are doubly victimized as many of the relocations sites set up by successive administrations are danger zones in themselves,” added Rep. De Jesus.

“Saan dadalahin ang mga pamilyang ito pagkatapos ng demolisyon? Sa isa na namang relocation site na muli rin namang dadanas ng matinding sakuna katulad ng nangyari sa Kasiglahan Village, Southville at Malanday? Huwag natin silang tingnang basura o latak. Ang pangako ng ligtas na pamayanan ay hindi nagsisimula at nagtatapos lang sa pagpapagawa ng mga flood control projects. Ito ay dapat na nakaugnay sa katiyakan ng ligtas at maayos na pamumuhay at buhay hindi lamang ng mga nakaaangat, kundi lalo na iyong mga mas nangangailangan ng pagkalinga ng pamahalaan,” Rep. De Jesus emphasized.

“Aquino exposed his callousness when he declared the waterways as danger zones and ordered their demolition in the name of projects for ‘national interest’. Whose ‘national interest’ is he referring to? Does it refer to the interest of mining companies, illegal loggers, and big infrastructure developers like mall owners that clog the waterways? Why zero-in on the poor while turning a blind eye to the big business practices that wreak havoc on the environment?” the Gabriela solon ended.