MANILA, Philippines -- Two militant groups staged simultaneous protest actions Thursday, urging government to be accountable and to implement long term reforms over a number of issues.

In Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City, the group Busina Network, together with students from ADMU, staged a noise barrage along Katipunan Avenue to protest the ?lack of transparency? of the government in a number of issues, including the appointment of new Commission on Election commissioners, deferment of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), and the appointment of Romulo Neri as president and CEO of the Social Security System (SSS).

At the Trinity University of Asia, members of Anakbayan and students formed a human chain and held candle lighting ceremonies to protest the unprecedented increases in the prices of oil.

In a statement, Busina Network said the lack of transparency in appointing new Comelec commissioners left election watchdogs in a state of ?wonder [on] what procedures and rules were followed in the nomination process and where exactly the names of the two recently appointed Comelec commissioners came from.?

The group added that the appointments of retired Court of Appeals Justice Lucenito Tagle and former Malabon Regional Trial Court Acting Judge Leonardo Leonida early July questioned the credibility of the electoral process.

Busina Network also urged the House of Representatives to pass CARP, which was deferred after Congress adjourned last June.

The group said CARP ?would give hope to the millions of rural poor to have their own land.?

Finally, Busina Network also questioned the credibility of Neri as SSS president, raising concern that funds of the agency might be used for corruption.

Although Busina Network said they would not join the massive protest action on Monday when the President would deliver her congressional speech, the group said it was preparing for its own protest in August.

The protest in Trinity University led by Anakbayan was the third day of the weeklong protest countdown before Arroyo's speech on Monday.