Militants in 4 Bicol cities call for Duterte ouster ahead of SONA

LEGAZPI CITY –– Hours before President Duterte’s fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona) at the Batasan Pambansa, Bicol militant groups marched in the cities of Naga, Masbate, Sorsogon, and Legazpi Monday to call for the ouster of the president and protest against his pro-China stance.

In Naga City, the protests have caused traffic on the streets going to the city proper.

In Albay province, the rain failed to stop the protesters from marching from Daraga town to Peñaranda Park in Legazpi City.

Bayan Bicol Secretary General Dan Balucio, in a press release sent to the media, said Mr. Duterte would only “boost his false victories” to hide his administration’s failure in implementing fundamental changes for the masses.

Under Duterte’s administration, the 210 political killings they have recorded throughout the country show that the administration has intensified its “fascist attacks and repression,” he said.

Balucio also said that in Bicol, 63 were alleged victims of extrajudicial killings, most of them farmers.

Amid the long drought, the country is facing worsening economic crisis due to the Rice Tariffication Law, he also said.

“The farm gate price of rice, garlic, copra, and other agricultural products is decreasing. The local production of rice, chicken, and pigs have fallen due to the neo-liberal policy of importation,” he said.

Militants have once again protested Mr. Duterte’s pro-China stance, saying that the government has exchanged funds for corruption in exchange for the sovereign rights to the West Philippine Sea.