MANILA - An activist group on Sunday, which is also All Saints’ Day, announced the holding of protests against the Arroyo administration 40 days after hundreds were killed during Tropical Storm “Ondoy.”

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-National Capital Region (Bayan-NCR), in a statement Sunday, said that as victims of “Ondoy” its members will be expressing their mourning over the loss of lives of their loved ones but also said that “grieves will be turned into protests as the aftermath of the calamity turns 40 days on Thursday, November 5.”

It announced nationally-coordinated protest actions would be held to call on the government “for justice to all the victims and indemnification to all the damages, lost lives and properties brought by the calamity, particularly by typhoons Ondoy, Pepeng and Santi.”

It said it holds the government “liable to its criminal neglect to its people in terms of disaster rescue, relief and rehabilitation response efforts.”

“The Arroyo government must brace itself for series and intensified protests from the victims and the people who had been victimized by government-made calamities in the coming days,” said Roy Velez, Bayan-NCR chair.

Protest actions will reportedly be launched by different organizations under Bayan and Kilusang Bayanihan in Metro Manila, Southern Tagalog, Central and Northern Luzon and some parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.

A rally will reportedly also be held at Don Chino Roces Bridge in Mendiola in Manila and a gathering of the relatives of the victims of the calamity would also be held at Caritas Manila in Pandacan also in Manila.

The National Disaster Coordinating Council put the fatalities due to "Ondoy" at 337 while 465 were accounted as fatalities due to “Pepeng.” Millions were affected by the two weather disturbances which brought floods and landslides.

Filipino Catholics traditionally pray continuously for 40 days after the death of a loved one.