SIGNS OF THE TIMES Protest signs tackling a variety of issues confronting the Duterte administration are checked by a protester during a rally at Pe帽aranda Park in Legazpi City before the President delivered his State of the Nation Address on Monday. 鈥擥EORGE GIO BRONDIA
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Hours leading to President Rodrigo Duterte鈥檚 State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, several groups in the provinces took to the streets to express their indignation over issues facing the country amid the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
In Baguio City, some 80 members of progressive and religious groups staged a prayer rally in front of the Baguio Cathedral to protest the antiterror law.
The protesters brought with them paper cranes, which, they said, symbolized their aspirations. The Diocese of Baguio and Church-based Taripnong Para ti Kapya (Gathering for Peace) organized the protest and a related forum at the diocese鈥檚 Social Action Center.
Wearing face masks printed with the messages, 鈥淛unk terror law,鈥� 鈥淭ulong hindi kulong (aid not imprisonment)鈥� and 鈥淢ass testing now,鈥� the protesters prayed for solutions to the health, economic and political crises that beset the country.
In Angeles City, at least 20 members of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan marched around EPZA Resettlement, demanding medical solutions to the coronavirus, jobs and food.
Activists held
In Laguna province, police briefly held seven members of the youth activist group Anakbayan who were on their way to 鈥淪ONAgkaisa,鈥� a mass protest at the University of the Philippines Los Ba帽os (UPLB).
Police Lt. Col. Louie Dionglay, Los Ba帽os police chief, said the protesters were stopped at a checkpoint because the jeepney they had rented was traveling 鈥渙ut of line鈥� or route. They were later released without charges.
In Cavite province, police said they would file charges against 62 members of militant groups that tried to cross provincial borders to join the UPLB rally.
Joy Caldo of Student Christian Movement of the Philippines-Cavite State University said their group, on four jeepneys, was stopped near South Luzon Expressway in Carmona, Cavite.
Protesters in Bicol region decried what they called was 鈥渋ntimidation鈥� from police during a pre-Sona protest.In Iloilo City, around 500 protesters led by Church-based, progressive and political groups gathered at Iloilo Sunburst Park to hold their own version of the Sona.
Wearing face masks and standing a meter apart, the protesters assailed the 鈥渇ailure of the national government鈥� to address the pandemic.
PROTEST CANCELED A protest rally on the day President Duterte will deliver the State of the Nation Address did not push through in Davao City after negotiations ended on an impasse. Protesters said the police insisted on restricting people in the rally and barricaded Freedom Park. KARLOS MANLUPIG
Similar protest actions were held at Pastrana Park in the capital town of Kalibo in Aklan province and in Roxas City in Capiz province.
In Cebu province, members of Bagong Alyansa Makabayan-Central Visayas staged a rally in front of the compound of ABS-CBN in Mandaue City to protest the shutting down of the media network.
鈥楬oly hour鈥�
In Bacolod City, churches held a 鈥渉oly hour鈥� while Mr. Duterte delivered his Sona. Bishop Patricio Buzon said it was necessary to pray for the country鈥檚 leaders so they 鈥渕ay be given an understanding heart, be able to discern right from wrong and serve the common good above personal interest.鈥�
In Davao City, workers assailed what they described as 鈥渇ailure鈥� of the Duterte administration in addressing labor issues.
Kilusang Mayo Uno-Southern Mindanao spokesperson, PJ Dizon, said they resented supporting Mr. Duterte who had promised to stop labor contractualization.
The police mounted a barricade around Freedom Park and arranged plastic chairs, explaining that this would ensure physical distancing during the protest.
鈥�Reports from Kimberlie Quitasol, Tonette Orejas, Maricar Cinco, Rey Anthony Ostria, Nestor Burgos, Carla Gomez, Ador Vincent Mayor and Karlos Manlupig