Anti-Duterte and Pro-Duterte hold protests in Mendiola
Opposition groups of the Duterte administration and the supporters of the president held their protests in two different sides of Mendiola on Thursday, the 45th anniversary of Martial Law declared as the National Day of Protest.
Students, men and women of different ages, gathered in Mendiola to express their voices and raise their different opinions about the current administration.
Jemma San Buenaventura, 18, a student from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) together with her companions, went to Mendiola to be part of the protest concerning the possible enforcement of Martial Law.
“Naging matagumpay naman yung malawakang mobilisasyon ngayon, para sa paggunita nga ng 45th anniversary ng Martial Law, isa ring purpose ng mobilisasyon ngayon is that patuloy na nararanasan natin sa ating bansa yung patayan,” San Buenaventura explained.
(It was a success for the huge mobilization today, in commemorating the 45th anniversary of Martial Law, one of the purposes of this mobilization is the ongoing inhumane and unjust killings happening in our country)
She also discussed the fascism tendencies of President Duterte regarding the certain issues in the nation especially the war on drugs and the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao.
“Ang mga pangunahing biktima dito ay mga kababaihan, kabataan, estudyante, mga mahihirap mula sa komunidad, sibilyan at mamamayan,” she continued.
(The primary victims are the women, youth, students and poor people in the community, civilians and fellow compatriots)
San Buenaventura also said that the mobilization was to appeal to President Duterte about his promises such as contractualization.
The main purpose of the protest, however, was to condemn about the impending declaration of Martial Law in the country.
Marcos loyalists support
The pro- Duterte and Marcos loyalists groups gathered inside the Mendiola Peace Arch in between Centro Escolar University and San Beda College to support the current administration.
Cheers and chants of joy filled the atmosphere as the participants welcomed Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, along with Atty. Emily Padilla, the undersecretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
National President and Chairman of the Pilipinas kong Mahal Ama’t Ina ng Bayan Forever, Gloria Reyes, 61, said that for her, there was nothing wrong with the celebration of the declaration of Martial Law of former President Ferdinand Marcos because she was a living proof that there was no such thing as a human right victim.
“Wala naman human rights victim, [which means] kung hindi ka lumalabag sa lahat ng deklamento ng gobyerno, hindi ka tiwali, hindi ka leftist—hindi ka talaga gumagawa ng hindi maganda sa gobyerno” Reyes said.
(There is no human rights victim, which means if you do not violate government decrees, you’re not corrupt, you’re not a leftist– you don’t do anything against the government)
“Kaya ako nandito sumusuporta [pa] ako para malaman ng taong bayan na hindi [ho] ako biktima ng sinasabi nilang human right” she added.
That is why I’m here supporting the protest, so that everyone would know that I am not a victim of what they call human right)
PNP Chief visited Pro-Duterte Groups
PNP Chief Dela Rosa visited the Pro-Duterte right after the program of the Anti-Duterte, together with Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Atty. Emily Padilla, to ensure that the rally would remain simultaneous.
Dela Rosa was asked on the security the measure of the police in the huge protest taking place, so far there were no complaints and reports of casualties and occurrences, according to him.
There would be a number of 1,200 scattered in the City of Manila, 200 police in line in Mendiola and 150 police inside for the second layer, said Dela Rosa.
“Hindi natin sila pigilan ang mga rallyista they can express their sentiments, they can go whenever they want to go to express their protest, saka lang kami kikilos ‘pag may nakita na kaming hindi maganda na nagstart na sila manakit ng tao at manira ng properties,” Dela Rosa explained.
(We cannot stop the protesters to express their sentiments, instead they can go whenever they want to go in order to express their protest, the police will only take action if they start to hurt people and destroy properties.)
When asked about the alleged enforcement of Martial Law, Bato said: “Wala talaga ito sa isip ni presidente bakit mag ma-martial law, mayroong Martial Law sa Mindanao kasi nandun yung problema sa ISIS,” he answered.
(The president doesn’t want to implement Martial Law but there’s a Martial Law in Mindanao because of the problem about ISIS.)
Dela Rosa briefed the police force about the possible situations in the protest.
Some pro-Duterte groups stayed in Mendiola and held a program in celebration of the ‘achievements’ of
President Duterte. More contingents of supporters of the administration gathered in Plaza Miranda, according to the loyalists.
The opposition groups, however, marched from Mendiola to Rizal Park, where a program was set for the protest against Duterte, according to the police.
