Students from youth group Anakbayan and various universities in Manila held a lightning rally at the Gate 7 of Malacañang Palace to condemn President Rodrigo Duterte’s invective against drivers after the two-day transport strike, which they said was the latest in his castigation of poor Filipinos. They said this is part of Duterte’s growing fascist and tyrannical rule.
“He asked for the people’s support so he can win the presidency. But now we see him talk the poor down in the last transport strike. He even told them to go and die in hunger,” said Anakbayan Metro Manila Chairperson Kristian Advincula.
“Duterte’s words are painful to the ear but what’s more hurtful is that his administration is actually embarking on more and more policies that go against the rights and interests of the poor,” said Advincula.
They noted that drug war killings continue despite the change of implementer from the Philippine National Police to the Philippine Drug Enforcemenr Agency. Killings of unarmed peasants and indigenous people in the Duterte’s all-out war against the New People’s Army remain unabated as well.
They also decried how in the last three days, various local governments implemented demolition of homes in Pasig and confiscation of food stalls of small vendors in Manila.
The students burned a portrait of Duterte wearing a top hat in the colors of the flag of the United States of America.
