At least 400 students joined Black Friday protest march in UP Diliman on Friday the 13th. PHOTO/Noy Morcoso, INQUIRER.net
Student and militant groups on Friday staged a Black Friday protest at University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman in Quezon City to call for the downfall of the Duterte administration.
About 400 students converged at Palma Hall in UP Diliman for a noise barrage before marching along the streets of the university for their Black Parade.
Past rallies such as the Black Friday Protest have been viewed by Malacañang as testaments that freedom is alive and democracy is alive in the Philippines.
“The Palace position on the matter remains clear and consistent: We allow public displays of constructive criticism as part of full exercise of the protesters’ rights to express their grievances,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque had said.
More than 200 students hold Black Friday protest at Palma Hall in UP Diliman pic.twitter.com/I6FTODthvn
— Thirdy (@dMorcosoINQ) April 13, 2018
Students also carried tarpaulins and placards with written statements calling for the end of martial law in Mindanao, to stop the proposed Charter change in Congress, and to bring down the “tyrannical” government.
Black Friday protest in UP Diliman pic.twitter.com/aIi0ML8aXt
— Thirdy (@dMorcosoINQ) April 13, 2018
Kabataan Partylist national secretary general Angelica Reyes said Duterte has “unleashed his circus freaks in government and controversial theatrics as part of his desperate plan to run his one-man ‘fascist show’.”
“Duterte’s circus acts, instead of entertaining, enraged the youth and empowered them to resist his advances and mount the broad opposition against his strongman dictatorial rule,” Reyes said in a statement.
Likewise, the Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP said that the firebrand leader’s days in Malacañang are “numbered.”
“Democracy can’t come to the phone right now. Why? ‘cause it’s dead! Duterte, look what you made the Iskolar ng Bayan do! Your days in Malacañang are numbered!” the group said in a Facebook post.