Australian senator stages ‘protest’ during Marcos’ speech

Australian senator Janet Rice, during President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ‘s address to the Australian Parliament on Thursday, pulls up a placard urging the president to “stop the human rights abuses.” | PHOTO: Janet Rice ‘X’ account

MANILA, Philippines — An Australian senator pulled out a placard that read “stop the human rights abuses,” during President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ‘s address to the Australian Parliament on Thursday.

During Marcos’ speech, Greens senator Janet Rice held up the sign urging the president to end such abuses.

READ: Marcos arrives in Australia for state visit, talks on defense and trade

“Under President Marcos Jr, corruption in the Philippines is getting worse. There are hundreds of political prisoners, and ‘anti-terrorism’ laws are used as legal cover for extrajudicial killings,” Rice said in a post on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter).

“Yet the Australian Government invited him to address the Parliament today. Shame,” she added.

READ: Marcos: Australia is PH’s ‘natural partner’ in keeping int’l order

Rice was escorted out of the House of Representatives as Marcos continued his speech, a report from news.com.au said.

Marcos arrived in Canberra, Australia, on Wednesday for a state visit.

He is expected to sign three agreements on cooperation during the trip and discuss matters of defense and trade with Australian leaders.

The president is also set to return to the country on Thursday