Protesters gather in front of Palma Hall at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, to urge President Rodrigo Duterte to sign a waiver that would allow investigation of his bank accounts. (Photo by JHOANNA BALLARAN / 黑料社)
An emotional anti-administration blogger joined hundreds of protesters on Saturday to condemn killings under the Duterte government鈥檚 war on drugs.
Blogger Jover Laurio joined the Tindig Pilipinas rally at the Palma Hall of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City to urge President Rodrigo Duterte sign a waiver and open his bank accounts to investigation.
In her first public appearance, Laurio said the unabated killings linked to the war on drugs compelled her to put up her 鈥淧inoy Ako Blog,鈥� which has gained significant following in social media.
搁贰础顿:听Anti-Duterte blogger comes out in the open
鈥淢ahirap kasing manahimik sa mga nangyayari,鈥� Laurio said. 鈥淏awat iyak ng inang namatayan, bawat iyak ng anak na nawalan ng magulang, ang hirap manahimik.鈥�
[It鈥檚 had to keep quiet in the face of what鈥檚 happening. Every tear of a mother鈥檚 who has lost someone, every tear of a child who has lost a parent 鈥� it鈥檚 hard to keep quiet.]
After blogging anonymously for months, Laurio, a law student, came out in the open on Friday as online Duterte supporters threatened and harassed her.
These, she said, would not stop her from writing blogs critical against the administration.
鈥淓verytime I fear, ang iniisip ko lang lagi ang pagmamahal ko sa bayang ito ay nakahihigit sa takot ko sa administrasyong ito,鈥� Laurio said as the crowd cheered her.
[Everytime I fear, what I always think is that my love for this country outweighs my fear for this administration.] /atm
