Group calls for Duterte's ouster

CEBU, Philippines —  Progressive group under Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN)-Central Visayas is demanding the ouster of President Rodrigo Duterte as the country commemorated yesterday the 49th anniversary of the martial law declaration.

Jaime Paglinawan, spokesperson of BAYAN-Central Visayas, claimed that Duterte’s administration is about corruption, illegal arrests and killings, among others.

He said here is no difference between the Marcos and the Duterte regimes. The martial law was declared by late dictator Ferdinand Marcos back in 1972 by virtue of Proclamation 1081.

“Ang rehimen ni Duterte, puro patay, puro ilegal nga pag-aresto ug pagpangpriso, puro korapsyon, puro pagpamig-ot sa katawhang Pilipino. Sa lima ka tuig niya sa posisyon, ang nagkagrabing kalisod ang kabag-uhan nga atong nasinati. Walay kalahian si Duterte ug Marcos ug sama ni Marcos, angay lang palagputon si Duterte,” he said.

The group marched to Colon Street in Cebu City, condemning the atrocities of the Duterte regime and they calling for Duterte’s ouster.

BAYAN-Central Visayas said Duterte is following the late dictator’s footsteps.

“It is proof that Duterte did not bring change as he promised during his campaign and has even worsened the country’s political situation,” Paglinawan said.

BAYAN-Central Visayas also expressed support to the International Criminal Court’s investigation into the human rights violations of the Duterte regime.

The group bannered genuine agrarian reform, a resistance to development aggression, and called for an end to ENDO (end of contract) or contractualization.

“The Duterte regime has stuck with their militarist approach to the pandemic and it has cost the lives of thousands of Filipino. The financial assistance provided by the government is insufficient despite audit reports proving that billions have been unspent. The corruption of the Duterte regime and the Marcos regime are also no different from each other,” Paglinawan added in a statement.

Also, the group condemned the Duterte administration for channeling more funds into the military, police, and the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), which has “done nothing but red-tagged legitimate progressive organizations and put the youth in harm’s way, instead of funding social services, especially for the health sector in this time of pandemic.”

Moreover, the group called for justice for the victims of political killings in Cebu, including human rights worker Butch Rosales who was gunned down in Lapu-Lapu City on August 8, 2018; peace consultant Fr. Rustico Tan who was killed while he was sleeping in his home on Camotes Island on May 28, 2021; human rights lawyer Atty. Rex Fernandez, who was shot dead on August 25, 2021 in Banawa, Cebu City; and development worker and peasant advocate Elena Tijamo, who was abducted from her home on Bantayan Island, Cebu on June 13, 2020 and resurfaced dead in a hospital in Mandaluyong City on August 30, 2021.

“Klaro sa atoa nga ang rehimen ni Duterte, magpadayon lang kini sa pagpamig-ot kanato. Ang pagbag-o nga atong gusto, makab-ot lamang sa hiniusang lihok sa katawhang Pilipino,” Paglinawan said.

On the other hand, hundreds of participants belonging to various organizations from basic sectors, political blocs and parties participated in a one hour “Stand up Silent Protest” from the busy streets of Bulacao, Magallanes, Mc Arthur Highway, P. Del Rosario, Mabolo and North Reclamation Area.

Teody Navea, secretary general of Sanlakas Cebu, said the volatile situation emerging from the deep economic and health crisis brought about by the pandemic is totally alarming.

Navea said Martial Law should not be discounted as a possible recourse of the current administration that failed to provide the much-needed response in relation to the economic and health needs of the people.

“The lessons learned of Martial Law should not be forgotten and should be passed on to the young generation. Never again to Martial Law and Elite Rule must come to an end,” said Navea in a separate statement.

Assessment

Police said yesterday’s protests were generally peaceful despite an argument ensued between militant groups and authorities.

Police Captain Edgar Labe, Waterfront Police station chief, said at least 60 members of advocacy groups staged a protest at Plaza Sugbo in front of Cebu City Hall.

He said cops observed maximum tolerance in dealing with the protesters.

He said they were given five minutes to air their plights but they demanded more time, resulting in a slight argument.

“But eventually they heeded the instruction and dispersed after the five-minute allowance,” said Labe. — Iris Hazel Mascardo, KQD (FREEMAN)