Actor leads rally of Duterte supporters at Batasan

PRO-DUTERTE RALLY Supporters of President Duterte hold their own rally about 500 meters away from the one staged by protesters outside the Batasan complex in Quezon City. —LEO SABANGANII

While thousands of protesters gathered at the south end of the Batasan complex in Quezon City, supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte, though smaller in number, were in a cheerful mood about 500 meters away.

Organized by Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Community, the green-wearing members of the group raised their fists and chanted the President’s name during the program.

Present at the rally was actor Cesar Montano, chair of the Tourism Promotions Board, who reportedly paid for the stage and sound system of the pro-Duterte rally.

Bobby Brilliante, national spokesperson for the group, said members came to show support for the President.

Sought for comment on the protesters slamming Mr. Duterte, Brilliante, a former councilor and vice mayor of Makati City, said they welcomed the criticism.

“We need to look at them as our conscience,” he said. “We also need opposition because even if the President’s performance was good, he could not have done it all.”

Brilliante said while Mr. Duterte had focused his first year battling criminality, the group looked forward to programs on the economy, particularly on small enterprises, to address poverty.

Sara Duterte

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte also stopped by the rally to thank Brilliante’s group for its support for her father.

While police personnel stood firm against the protesters, the Philippine National Police band serenaded the pro-Duterte crowd with a Bruno Mars song.

In Pampanga province, 3,500 Bantay Bayan volunteers and provincial officials ended a disaster preparedness assembly on Monday by chanting “Duterte! Duterte!,” while lifting up placards bearing the President’s photographs.

Stopping terrorists

The assembly, organized by the Pampanga provincial government, featured speakers who discussed regulations and steps in stopping terrorist groups from gaining a foothold in neighborhoods.

In her speech, Gov. Lilia Pineda thanked Mr. Duterte for helping Pampanga, crediting agencies like the Department of Labor and Employment for funding P137 million in livelihood projects in the province.

Pineda cited the Department of Public Works and Highways for allocating P3.921 billion for various infrastructure projects, including flood control, and the Department of Agriculture for setting aside P74 million for rice production equipment.

“The President has a heart. The well-being of the poor is his priority,” Pineda said. “Let’s give him our all-out support.”

In Pangasinan, fewer than a hundred people gathered at the People’s Park in Dagupan City to express support for Mr. Duterte.

Organized by “friends of Duterte,” the group put up signs saying, “Thank You, President Duterte.”