Opposition demonstrators troop to España
Various religious groups along with students and indigenous people trooped to España, Manila on Thursday in protest against President Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte’s administration in what they deem as an upcoming dictatorship similar of late former President Ferdinand E. Marcos.
A UST seminarian holding a statue of Virgin Mother Mary smiles amidst protest. Photo by Dexter Tilo/THE FOURTH
Activist groups such as ANAKBAYAN, Lakbayan, ANAKPAWIS, Bayan Muna, Gabriela, along with members of the Cordillera Elders Alliances (CEA) and other indigenous groups, converged outside the UST España gate with students from UST, University of the Philippines Diliman and Manila, Polytechnic University of the Philippines to name a few.
Student-activists from ANAKBAYAN-UST brave the heat to protest against tyranny. Photo by Dexter Tilo/THE FOURTH
Their demonstration was one of the multiple rallies against the Duterte administration held on Sept. 21 to mark the 45th year since the declaration of Martial Law under the late dictator Marcos.
Gerald Chopchopen from CEA went all the way to Manila to participate in the protests hoping his voice will be heard and that he would not see another dictatorship in his lifetime.
“Promo-protesta kami para maki-isa sa mga pambansang minorities, at sa laban kami sa [ilegal na] mina, hydropower at tsaka yung sa [ilegal na pagpapaalis sa aming] lupa na [binigay ng] panginoon. (We are protesting in unity with the national minorities, and we are against illegal mining, hydropower, and the forced expulsions from our homes [by military] that were given to us by the Lord.) ”
Bro. John Alfred Rabena, a seminarian from UST, participated in the rally with his seminarian brothers.
UST, especially the seminarians and the higher officials of the university, has often been criticized for being tongue-tied on important national issues as stated in The Varsitarian and The Flame.
Holding a statue of the Virgin Mary as they march, Rabena explained that he and his comrades must take a stand for the humanity noting that although the church must remain non-partisan, they march for the people and with them.
“We are fighting for human dignity which is something bestowed by God,” said Rabena.
“Our role is to be with the people, to walk with the people, and to show that our church is not indifferent,” he continued.
Activists stood up on a makeshift platform on a truck condemning the recent deaths of Kian delos Santos and the thousands more without due process, as well as the killing of Lumad student Obello Bay-ao in Mindanao before eventually mobilizing towards Mendiola.
The thousands of anti-Duterte protesters then were positioned in front of Mendiola Peace Arch extending to CM Recto Avenue.
A program was done which featured the burning of a revolving, three-dimensional effigy that projected the faces of President Duterte, Adolf Hitler, Ferdinand Marcos, and a puppy called the “Rody’s Cube”.
A tale of two rallies
Activists from different groups run around a flaming Duterte-Marcos effigy with their flags. Photo by Dexter Tilo/THE FOURTH
Thousands of people supporting the current administration and anti-Duterte demonstrators simultaneously held their protest in opposite sides of Mendiola.
Pro-Duterte supporters held a program where the President’s advocates spoke before the crowd wearing green and orange clothing with Metro Manila’s Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada imprinted on their caps.
“Gusto namin yung malinis [na lipunan] na ang aming mga apo balang araw [ay] di na malululong sa droga (We want a much cleaner [society] wherein our grandchildren someday would have no chance of ever getting into drugs.),” said 63 year-old Amadia Fuerte who was present inside the Arch.
She said that she was not scared of the killings and that she believed that the ones who were killed in police operations have been warned but succumbed to old deeds.
“‘Di naman nakakatakot. Kung gusto tumigil, tumigil na. ‘Yang mga inosente, minsan nadadamay lang (It doesn’t fear me. If they want to stop, they should stop. The innocents [who get killed], sometimes they’re just at wrong place at the wrong time.),” she said.
“Masakit man talaga ‘yan, pero para sa’kin maganda yung mawala yung droga tsaka yung mga bata ‘di malululong sa masamang bisyo (Although it’s harsh, for me I’d rather see drugs stop and that the children wouldn’t have to go through those vices),” she continued.
A supporter of the current administration, Amadia admitted that it was impossible to eradicate the issue on drugs until Duterte’s last term.
Moreover, she stressed that in the end, the change that Duterte initially promised can only happen if the people choose to follow him.
When asked if she would support the President if ever the latter would declare Martial Law, Amadia said, “Maganda naman kung mag de-deklara, pero mas maganda kung ‘di magdeklara, para sa ganun malaya tayo, malaya tayong ipagtanggol ang sarili. (I wouldn’t mind, but I’d much rather that he wouldn’t declare (Martial Law) so that we’d still be free, free to defend ourselves.)”
Police Senior Inspector Leonardo De Guzman, Police Community Precinct Commander, said the anti-Duterte protesters were estimated at 5,000 while the crowd at the pro-Duterte rally was at 3,000.
The multiple rallies held on Thursday were part of a nationwide movement after President Duterte declared September 21 as a National Day of Protest.
Compilation video of the National Day of Protest
