On the eve of the nation’s remembrance of the martial law declaration by late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, protesters started to converge at the Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila to assert protection of democracy and express their indignation against the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Church leaders, different social movements, trade union organizations, women’s groups, student councils and sectoral formations began to fill Plaza Miranda for the ‘Manindigan Para Sa Demokrasya’ protest, even calling Mr. Duterte as destabilizer-in-chief.’
Activists were denouncing Duterte’s earlier claims that there were forces plotting to overthrow him.
Groups such as Akbayan Party, Kilusan para sa Makabansang Ekonomiya (KME), Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD), Sentro ng Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO), Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP) and Akbayan Youth will lead the protest.
Personalities like Manila Archbishop Broderick Pabillo, Senator Risa Hontiveros, former Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairperson Loretta Ann Rosales, Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin, and Father Bernardine Leones are expected to join the rally.
Students from the University of the Philippines (UP), Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), University of Santo Tomas (UST), Miriam College, Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU) and De La Salle University (DLSU) are also expected to participate in the demonstration. /kga