Published: 4:33 p.m., Dec. 10, 2017 | Updated: 6:49 p.m., Dec. 10, 2017
Undeterred by the inclement weather, thousands of protesters from various sectors gathered at the Bonifacio Shrine in Manila on Sunday to celebrate the International Human Rights Day and to decry the alleged deterioration of human rights under President Rodrigo Duterte’s watch.
In a statement released on Saturday, the Movement Against Tyranny (MAT) warned of a “new and wider wave of killings and human rights violations in the country” under the Duterte government.
MAT is composed of incumbent and former legislators, lawyers, doctors, artists, journalists, academics, religious leaders, representatives of nongovernment organizations (NGOs) and peoples organizations, and prominent individualsl.
The groups cited as proof the killing of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos, 19-year-old Carlo Angelo Arnaiz, and 14-year-old Reynaldo “Kulot” de Guzman.
More recently, there were also the killing of Catholic priest Fr. Marcelito Paez in Nueva Ecija, Pastor Lovelito Quiñones in Mindoro Oriental, and human rights activist Elisa Badayos in Negros Oriental.
Among the signatories to the “Joint Statement of Concern on the Deteriorating Human Rights Situation” are:
- Sen. Francis Pangilinan
- former Sens. Rene Saguisag and Wigberto Tañada
- Reps. Edcel Lagman, Jose Christopher Belmonte, Sarah Elago, Carlos Zarate, Emi de Jesus, Antonio Tinio, France Castro, Ariel Casilao, Tom Villarin
- former Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo and former Agrarian Reform SecretaryRafael Mariano
- lawyers Pacifico Agabin, Ada D. Abad, Antonio La Viña, Jose Manuel Diokno, Pablito V. Sanidad, Arno V. Sanidad, Vicky Avena, and Edre Olalia
- former Reps. Lorenzo Tañada, Neri Colmenares, and Teddy Casiño
Meanwhile, martial law survivor and activist Bonifacio Ilagan, warned during the program that the “greatest threat to the Philippine democracy is Duterte’s moves towards dictatorship and authoritarianism.”
The program at the Bonifacio Shrine was by a torch march . towards Mendiola where the final action and effigy burning will be held.
PO1 Paulino Migriño of Manila Police District Police Station 5 said the crowd estimate was at 3,000 as of 5:00 p.m. /je /atm
