Pro-Duterte rally organizers see no conflict with EDSA

MANILA, Philippines - What the EDSA People Power Revolution fought for in 1986 was the same principle this weekend’s pro-Duterte vigil-rally at the Rizal Park in Manila is fighting for, organizers and personalities attending the event said yesterday.

“Pareho lang naman ang ipinaglaban niyan (they are fighting for the same thing),” Bobby Brillante, spokesman of the Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Council (MRRD-NECC) told reporters yesterday.

“EDSA fought for the restoration of freedom and democracy,” Brillante said. “We, here at Luneta, are fighting for the continuation of the freedom and democracy that EDSA fought for.  We have to make sure that freedom is preserved, democracy is strengthened and it should not be lessened as we go on. The only guarantee for freedom and democracy to remain stronger is for people to be vigilant.”

Brillante said the people’s support is needed to make sure the Duterte administration’s advocacies would be maintained.

As of 7 p.m. yesterday, about 200,000 people had gathered at the vigil-rally, including local government executives in blue or red shirts and office uniforms.

Saying the vigil-rally at the Rizal Park does not have “political color,” Interior and Local Government Undersecretary for Operations John Castriciones pointed out the participation of local government officials in the event is voluntary, even as Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno issued a memorandum last week enjoining local government offices to participate in the event.

“Of course, you cannot stop any individual there to invoke their principles about politics; of course this is a free country,” Castricones said.

He added most of the organizers at the rally yesterday joined the People Power Revolution 31 years ago, including himself.

“We, ourselves, most of us here, joined EDSA, but it does not mean that because we joined EDSA, we can no longer affiliate ourselves with the present dispensation,” he said, adding the people in the rally “want genuine change.”

“The problem is that during the EDSA revolution, which was successful in initiating change, the true spirit of EDSA was betrayed and that was the reason why we were not able to succeed in our pursuit for changes,” he said.

“Did we achieve the objective we planned to have because of EDSA? Nothing,” he lamented. “If we compare our country with nearby countries, did we achieve anything at all? It is embarrassing. And yet we call ourselves a democratic country... that we were able to establish a government in a peaceful way by toppling down a regime and establishing another one... It is embarrassing that we were not able to achieve anything at all.”

Castricones said the People Power Revolution happened because “EDSA clamored for a change at that juncture of history when there was a need to topple down a perceived strongman.”

“But right now, the real enemies are illegal drugs, corruption and criminality, and that is probably the reason why we encourage everyone coming from all walks of life to come join us and be with us to be able to address these problems,” Castriciones said.

Brillante said the MRRD-NECC helped run Duterte’s last-minute candidacy for president.

In a statement, the organization said it had to organize a rally to show their support to Duterte as “some pseudo-opposition leaders, displaced by the unrelenting campaign against corruption and illegal drugs, once again mounted a multi-million propaganda against the Duterte administration.”

“These leaders had the chance to stop the proliferation of illegal drugs, corruption, address poverty of our people but did not, because they themselves were involved and are still involved in destroying the future of our youth, our people and our country,” it added.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial and Bacoor City, Cavite representative Lani Mercado-Revilla joined the event. – With Emmanuel Tupas, Evelyn Macairan