“Duterte, Duterte for Martial Law!” The (around 25) anti-Duterte protesters can be heard screaming on top of their voices, while ABS-CBN reporter and her cameraman are trying to get the best angle. The video revealed that the protesters are members of militant group Bayan (Bagong Alyansang Makabayan), where Renato Reyes Jr. is the secretary general.
However, it can be assumed that the protesters are only practicing their activity for that day, and not yet the actual protest rally. Commenters on the video identified the female reporter as Barbara Mijares, who works for ABS-CBN TV-4 in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. In a photo, you can see her raising her right hand, telling the protesters to stop.
Incidentally, President Duterte on several occasions has accused ABS-CBN of being bias in their news reports, especially in relation to the government’s intensified war against illegal drugs. The president is also said to be close with the Marcos family. He allowed the burial of the late President Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB) last November.
Earlier, President Duterte declared September 21 as National Day of Protest to give way for the protesters. And although he did not declare it as a holiday, classes in public schools and work in government offices were suspended. Nevertheless, some private schools in Metro Manila declared ‘no classes’ so students can participate in the said protest.
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said that the September 21 protest was generally peaceful. According to Rappler, thousands of people (and militant groups) gathered in various parts of the country, including in Luneta, Quezon City, Cebu, Bacolod, and Davao City. Some netizens also voiced out their protest on Facebook and Twitter.
Contributed by Salvi Dalida
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