In a gathering that fused the voices of the youth, the legal profession, and the Church, Kabataan Partylist Representative Renee Louise Co and Bishop Gerardo ‘Jerry’ Alminaza of the Diocese of San Carlos rallied for unity amid what they described as ‘intensifying state repression’ and deepening socio-economic crises.
Before hundreds of people’s lawyers, Law students, and human rights advocates, Co declared that the youth movement is ‘rising with outrage’ against corruption, poor education funding, and the erosion of civil liberties.
She recalled how over 35,000 students nationwide joined walkouts in recent weeks to protest alleged misuse of public funds, the biggest youth mobilization she has seen since she joined the movement in 2016.
‘Noon, ang headline ay ‘Millennials walk out.’ Ngayon, ibang henerasyon naman ang nasa unahan ng laban,’ she said.
Co outlined the worsening burdens faced by students from rising tuition and miscellaneous fees to low wages and limited opportunities after graduation.
‘Everywhere you look, may kailangang bayaran bago mo pa makuha ang karapatan sa edukasyon. And even if you finish school even if you graduate what awaits you? Low wages. Forced migration. A future abroad where many will be vulnerable to abuse,’ she said.
Co urged lawyers and Law students to stand with the people as the legal profession faces attacks alongside other sectors.
‘We will ensure that the legal profession is not just confined to policy law firms or government practice. Kailangang ilagay para makamit natin yung pagbabago, shepherded and campaigned by the big movement,’ she added.
She criticized the proposed ?6.7 trillion 2026 national budget, which includes ?680 billion in pork barrel, including ?241 billion in unprogrammed appropriations.
‘Billions of pesos na sana ay pinondo sa ospital, sa State Universities and Colleges, sa social pension,’ Co said.
She lamented that while the DSWD’s ?30 billion request to clear the pension backlog was denied for ‘lack of fiscal space,’ the government found ?255 billion for flood control projects, many of which turned out to be ghost projects or substandard.
Echoing the call for solidarity, Alminaza, in a video message lauded the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) as ‘beloved lawyers of the people’ and praised their courage in defending human rights.
‘In a time when truth is silenced and conscience is criminalized, you keep hope alive, in courtrooms, in communities, and in the conscience of our nation,’ he said.
He urged NUPL to defend the rights to resist and self-determination, calling for the repeal of the Anti-Terrorism Act and other repressive measures.
‘When fear is legislated, freedom is imprisoned. When laws are twisted to serve power, lawyers must stand as prophets,’ Alminaza said.
The NUPL’s forum entitled ‘Seven Congresses Strong: Advancing People’s Lawyering in the Struggle for Rights, Justice and Accountability’ aims to shed light on the current struggle against corruption and injustice as well as on the present realities experienced by people’s lawyers today.