Bagong Alyansang Makabayan sends off Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and challenges the new administration of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III

Bayan Negros: We want to see Gloria languish in jail -- Militant group Bagong Alyanasang Makabayn (BAYAN) held a black protest at the heart of Bacolod City to send off Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and challenge the new administration of President Benigno Simeon Aquino. They celebreated the end of her regime and mourn for the nine (9) years of suffering of the Filipino people.

“Today we are happy that her term is finally over and at the same time we are sad because we lost 36 members due to extra judicial killings, 15 political detainees suffering in Negros jails. We demand investigation and prosecution of Arroyo and her family after she lost her immunity.” Said Junhill Enriquez, Bayan Negros Secretary general.

The send off black protest started with a march at Rizal park and culminated at the Rotonda at the center of downtown area. BAYAN displayed a mural of Arroyo inside the jail and a freedom wall with the demands of  different sectors for the Aquino Administration. Bayan’s freedom wall is open for the public for their calls and demands to the new President.

At the Rotonda, the militant group lighted candles and placed it sorrounding the names of political detainees and photos of extra-judicial killing victims to remind the people of Arroyo's legacy of killings of perceived “enemies of the state” under Oplan Bantay Laya II.

“Pres. Noynoy needs to prosecute Arroyo and we want to see her behind bars instead of our political detainess. We expect that justice be properly rendered for the crimes committed by the Arroyo regime,” Enriquez explained.

“As he take his oath as president, we want Aquino to start the change he promised. And that can only be achieved through the prosecution of Arroyo during his first one hundred days as president,” Ennriquez stressed.

Bayan also said that the incoming president Benigno Aquino must end political repression and extra judicial killings in the country.