Water cannon 5-25-09

Today I was water cannoned for the first time.  The farmers, joined by workers, urban poor, and the Church marched to Congress to demand the passage of HB 4077 or the CARPER bill.  When we reached Batasan, the Sumilao, Banasi and Calatagan farmers built a camp outside of the main gate.  Their reason: “we are not allowed to enter the premises of Congress and be part of the discussions of the bill, which is set to affect us.  By all means, we will monitor the proceedings from the outside.  Besides, this is a public office; it should be available for citizens’ use.”  But as the farmers were setting up their tents, the Quezon City Police District demanded the tearing down of the makeshift structure.  When Bishop Broderick Pabillo tried to negotiate, the police aimed their truncheons at him and the farmers.  What followed was a long mayhem wherein the farmers, workers, urban poor, religious, NGOs, and Bishop Pabillo tried mightily to resist the dirty and smelly water.

 But experiencing water truncheons is not my only first for today.  It is my first time to experience harshness in the hands of the police while pursuing a legitimate and moral asset reform measure.  We were not carrying a political issue.  We did not demand GMA’s ouster.  We were asking that an important measure be discussed and passed into law.  Even the anti cha cha call was not highlighted.  And still, despite the tired and confused look of the farmers, Nograles’s response was to hose down the marchers.

 Today I learned what power is.  It is the arrogance that emanates from a chamber that calls itself the people’s representatives when its response to a peaceful assembly of citizens is water cannon.  Never mind that old and women farmers were at the front.  Never mind that Bishop Pabillo and the nuns were at the frontlines.  No, the macho speaker fired water and threatened that he would remove CARPER from his priority list of legislation because of the events of today.  So now, it is our fault?  We were not even inside the halls of Congress!  From whence does his logic come from? 

 Or is he so arrogant and feeling-all-powerful that reason escapes him?