BAYAN-ST mounts ‘Black Saturday’ protest vs terror law
SAN PEDRO CITY-Progressive organizations, led by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Southern Tagalog (Bayan-ST), were set to hold an indignation rally in key cities in Laguna and Cavite after President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law the controversial anti-terror bill.
Although they were “expecting” the bill to be enacted, as it would have lapsed into law by July 9, BAYAN-ST spokesperson Casey Cruz said: “Duterte still chose to sign it (amid mounting opposition) as if it was being rushed in the midst of all the socio-economic problems (brought about by the coronavirus pandemic).”
Cruz also lamented that Duterte had to sign the bill on Friday, or a day before the commemoration of Philippine-American Friendship Day, which the group took as the government’s “early gift” to the “imperialist US (United States).”
“Namamangka siya sa dalawang ilog ng China at US (Duterte is sailing in two rivers, building alliances with both China and the US) that there’s no other recourse but for the people to fight back,” Cruz added in a phone interview.
Cruz said they were expecting about a “hundred” to gather in Bacoor and Dasmariñas cities in Cavite and in Cabuyao and Sta. Rosa cities in Laguna at 4 p.m. Saturday for the simultaneous indignation rally.
She said they would wear black to express opposition to the law that would take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette.
