MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Chanting "No votes for LP, no votes for Mar," more than a dozen people staged a protest as Liberal Party candidates were about to meet with various sectors at the University of the Philippines Diliman campus in Quezon City Wednesday, February 17.
The brief protest was held outside the Bahay ng Alumni, where LP standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II, his running mate Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo, and senatorial bets were to meet with various groups in a conference organized by the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC).
"We want genuine change," protest spokesperson Kenji Morimatsu said, holding a banner that read: "Zero vote for Liberal Party." (Read more about this on X)
They accused the LP of using government funds to help Roxas win the 2016 presidential race, a claim branded by Roxas as "black propaganda."
Roxas, Robredo and other bets such as former justice secretary Leila de Lima were able to enter the venue without incident, as the chants continued. The protesters dispersed shortly.
Sara Raymundo, member of the UP academic employees' union and one of the protesters, said the funds being used by NAPC were being used for LP's campaign.
But organizers of the forum denied this, adding that the event was held precisely to "assess the social contract" of the Aquino administration with basic sectors.
Yet when NAPC lead covenor Joel Rocamora introduced Roxas at the forum, Rocamora said, "Ang susunod na Manuel Roxas na magiging presidente ay si Mar." (The next Manuel Roxas who will be president is Mar.) – with reports from Bea Cupin/Rappler.com