SONA rallies to decry Duterte’s ‘failed promises,’ martial law

Bayan Secretary-General Renato Reyes. INQUIRER.net FILE / NOY MORCOSO

Mass actions during President Rodrigo Duterte’s second State of the Nation Address (Sona) Monday will rail against the extension of martial law in Mindanao and his failed promises, a militant leader said on Sunday.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Secretary General Renato Reyes Jr. told Inquirer.net that this year’s Sona rally would aim to “deliver a strong message” to Duterte regarding his “failed promises.”

“The mood of the rally will of course be different. It is not as optimistic as last year. It is more of a protest against and denunciation of the anti-people and anti-national policies of the Duterte regime. It will also serve as the national indignation over the extension of martial law,” Reyes said.

Optimism marked Sona rallies in 2016 as newly-elected Duterte reached out to the Left by jumpstarting the peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front and appointing progressive leaders, Judy Taguiwalo and Rafael Mariano, to the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Department of Agrarian Reform, respectively.

But a year later, the peace talks with the communists collapsed and the two secretaries have yet to be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments.

Bayan will also bring back effigy-burning as the centerpiece of this year’s demonstration after a break from 2016 in support of Duterte.

Reyes, however, would not say whose effigy would be burned Monday.

“Abangan [Let’s see],” he said.

Contingents of Bayan, the largest nationwide alliance of militant organizations, are all set for Monday’s protest, Reyes said. They will consist of delegates from Manila and Luzon, and Lumads from Mindanao.

“We’re all set for tomorrow’s rally which we expect to be just as big if not bigger than last year’s due to the many issues confronting the nation today,” the secretary general said.

The group does not foresee any untoward incident  as it is in constant coordination with the authorities. CBB/rga