Cebu ready for today’s protests

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu is ready for the National Day of Protest today as the country commemorates the declaration of Martial Law on September 21, 1972.

The police and the local government have assured that rallyists will have the freedom to express themselves in the streets as long as they maintain peace and order and not inconvenience the rest of the population.

“We can assure the public we have enough police for tomorrow. Always ready naman ang ating kapulisan… in a short notice, we can generate personnel to deploy kung kailangan,” said Cebu City Police Director, Senior Supt. Joel Doria.

He said personnel from the 34th Maritime Transport Technical Working Group are also augmenting local forces.

He said the presence of police in the streets is to ensure safety and continued smooth flow of traffic so as not to compromise the convenience of the rest.

“Nakikita naman natin kung ano ang gusto nila iparating. Meron tayong police presence to maintain yung order, at the same time, yung traffic… at safety nila, pinoproteksyunan natin,” Doria said.

The city government is also coordinating with the police closely to ensure peace in the streets.

“Rest assured nga atoang Cebuanos are safe tomorrow (today). Atoang Philippine National Police and military are all there so wala tay problema,” said Councilor David Tumulak, chairman of the City Council committee on public order and safety and deputy mayor for police matters.

“Diri sa city, lahi ni siya i-compare to Manila. Sa Manila, violent man ang mga tawo. Diri sa city, dili, kay they know Mayor Tommy… gitagaan man sila og pagtugot to express their freedom of expression as long as they will not violate local ordinances,” he said.

In Manila, President Rodrigo Duterte urged those who will hit the streets today to act within the bounds of law and be vigilant of possible infiltrators who may instigate violence during the rallies.

In Proclamation 319, Duterte also ordered the police and other law enforcement officers to observe maximum tolerance and maintain distance from mass assemblies and actions so protesters can exercise their rights fully.

Duterte also enjoined all local government units to dispense with the permit requirement for the holding of public assemblies, marches, and demonstrations.

In line with this, Menardo Guevarra, acting executive secretary, issued Memorandum Circular 26 declaring no work in all government offices and no classes in all public schools, including state universities and college.

Here, hundreds of cause-oriented groups will participate in a mass action, which is being spearheaded by the Cebu Citizens Assembly Against Tyranny, a coalition of NGO’s, human rights organizations, political blocs and enlightened individuals.

Teody Navea, secretary general of Sanlakas Cebu, said unity should be realized to those others who will not allow the nation to slide back to the dark days of authoritarian rule.

"Unite your anger to that of the millions who are outraged by the unabated killings of over 10,000 Filipinos in the name of war on drugs where majority of them poor and some were even minors and children," he said.

He said the gathering will also be a collective condemnation of anti-women, anti-democratic, and anti-people policies of the Duterte administration.

The group will march and carry a dozen crosses to dramatize their protest to the numerous victims of unjust killings under the Duterte regime.

Youth Act Now against Tyranny, a nationwide alliance of youth and students, will also join the nationwide protests.

"September 21 was a dark day in Filipino history. It ushered in an era of tyranny and dictatorship that brought about widespread abuse and human rights violations. Under Martial Law, thousands of Filipinos were tortured, imprisoned, and killed. This includes several youth and student leaders who fell victim to the Marcos dictatorship’s campaign of state terror,” said Youth Act Now against Tyranny Convenor Raoul Manuel.

Manuel said the threat of dictatorship has reportedly resurfaced with the resurgence and intensification of state perpetrated violence as body count and human rights violations continue to mount under Duterte’s war on drugs.

“The Filipino youth will not stand idly by as the people’s rights and civil liberties are trampled upon. The need for the youth and the people to join together becomes ever more urgent. Together, we are ready to stand up against tyranny and dictatorship. As we remember the historical lessons of Martial Law on September 21, the Filipino youth shout: Never Again!" he said. (FREEMAN)