Former president Duterte attends Dumaguete prayer, peace rally

Former President Rodrigo Duterte | Photo from the official Facebook page of Rody Duterte

BACOLOD CITY – Former president Rodrigo Duterte attended a prayer rally for peace organized by local group Hakbang ng Maisug at the Freedom Park in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental on Tuesday.

The 5:00 p.m. event pushed through even if the Dumaguete City government revoked the gathering’s permit.

“We don’t need a permit to use a freedom park,” former presidential spokesman Harry Roque told the Inquirer.

Duterte arrived at the venue at past 6 p.m. on Tuesday as the crowd cheered “Duterte, Duterte.”

Earlier in the program, the crowd also chanted “BBM resign,” alluding to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo, in an interview, told the Inquirer that a certain Rev. Ed Samson applied for a permit for the prayer rally on April 7 and which was granted on April 16.

On May 3, another person, Benjamin Villa, wrote to the city police seeking security assistance because Duterte and other guests would be attending the prayer rally.

Remollo said the police then informed him in a letter on May 3 that because of the short notice, they cannot provide adequate security, without augmentation, for the former president.

“In same letter, the police asked me to reconsider the grant of permit. I directed the city administrator to relay the information to Rev. Samson who said that he is distancing himself from the rally and that he is no longer in charge,” the mayor said.

On May 4, another group requested a dialogue with Remollo and confirmed that Samson was no longer involved in the prayer rally.

“I told them that the permit for the prayer rally was given to Rev. Samson as the focal person of the event. So if the new group want, they should apply for another permit and be the focal persons for the event and sign an undertaking that they will be the ones responsible for security arrangements and show proof that they have the means and capability to do it in view of the recommendation of the chief of police,” the mayor said.

The new group refused to apply for a permit.

“I cannot take the security concerns of no less than the former president Rodrigo Duterte and other VIPs and the general public lightly. At the end of the day it would still be my responsibility for any security lapses,” Remollo said.

Roque said he and Duterte were already in Dumaguete on Monday night and the rally would not be cancelled.

Roque, in a radio interview, said contrary to the police chief’s claim, the former president does not need a lot of security to attend a rally because he is well loved by the people.