Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) commemorated the 38th death anniversary of its founding secretary general Lean Alejandro with flowers and candles at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani on Friday morning.
Alejandro, a former University of the Philippines student leader and chairperson of the League of Filipino Students, was mowed down in Quezon City by suspected members of the rightist Reform the Armed Forces of the Philippines Movement on Sept. 19, 1987.
Alejandro and comrades were set to meet about the martial law proclamation anniversary rallies that year when waylaid while on his way to BAYAN’s national headquarters onboard his car.
BAYAN said its remembrance of Lean’s death anniversary is held while it is preparing for massive protests on the 53rd anniversary of the formal declaration of martial law on Sunday, September 21.
BAYAN is among the organizers of the anticipated massive protest event against corruption under the current Ferdinand Marcos Jr. government.
Also commemorated in this morning’s event are the death anniversary of Alejandro’s fellow student leader Edgar Jopson and the anniversary of the Escalante Massacre of striking sugar workers in Negros Island tomorrow, Sept. 20.
BAYAN chairperson Teddy Casino in his speech at the memorial site said their alliance vows to continue Alejandro’s activism for the Filipino people.
BAYAN chairperson emerita Carol Araullo meanwhile urged the people to be on guard against elements who only wish to grab power for selfish ends.
The Bantayog ng mga Bayani is a memorial site for victims and survivors who opposed the Marcos Sr. dictatorship. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
