Citizens organize protests over Kian, extrajudicial killings

MANILA, Philippines —  Various groups and concerned citizens are set to hold simultaneous protests over the killing of a 17-year-old high student and the alleged extrajudicial killings linked to the government’s war on drugs.

Simultaneous rallies are slated to be held at the People Power Monument in Quezon City at 6 p.m. on Monday.

One rally organized by concerned citizens is called “Tama na! Protesta laban sa patayan," Another one, set for the same time and place, is called “#StoptheKillings protest.” The latter is organized by non-profit groups DAKILA and Active Vista.

“Sa Lunes, August 21, sama-sama nating ipanawagan ang pagtigil ng patayan sa ilalim ng giyera kontra droga ni Duterte. Ipaglaban natin ang hustisya para kay Kian at sa iba pang katulad nya na walang-awang pinaslang sa ilalim ng kasalukuyang administrasyon,” the organizers said.

“We encourage everyone to come together in public plazas to show we are one in this call,” DAKILA and Active Vista said.

Citizens who plan to join the protests are encouraged to wear black and bring candles to symbolize sympathy for the drug-related killings and to demand justice for the victims.

The government has denied that there are state-sanctioned killings in the war on drugs and that more than 3,000 drug suspects killed in police operations were armed and fought it out with law enforcement.

The war on drugs enjoys public support, with many of those who agree with the campaign accusing critics of siding with criminals and drug syndicates or of being paid trolls.

Concerned citizens will also hold regional events in Metro Colon in Cebu City and Peñaranda Park in Legazpi City. These regional events will begin at 4 p.m. on Monday.

Organizers of the Legazpi protest dubbed “Kami si Kian” will hold a silent march from the Penaranda Park to Legazpi Boulevard.

“We will make a statement by being silent yet compelling. We will show the apathetic people what their silence does to our countrymen,” the group said.

“We will be wearing BLACK, holding placards saying our own statements, and march altogether in solidarity as we call for justice to the victims of the spate of massive killings and a clamor to stop the injustice befalling our country,” it added.

'Protests not for particular people or groups'

Organizers discourage organizational flags or banners and stressed that the protest is not for individual or specific groups.

On Saturday, University of the Philippines professor Sylvia Claudio on her Facebook account urged those attending to avoid bringing organizational posters.

"If possible, no organizational posters. Let's make this about our common humanity," Claudio said.

“‘Di na ito sa pulitika. Tungkol na ito sa pakikipagkapwa. Mahalaga ang bawa't buhay at ang bawa't Pilipino,” she wrote in a separate posts.

Claudio said she was surprised to learn that she was one of the first to post about the rally which was organized via online chat.

“Nagsimula sa chat. Mabigat sa kalooban ang nangyari. Para sa ilan sa amin, parang lahat ng sinubok upang matigilan na ang patayan ay walang saysay. Hindi kami nagkulang sa paalala tungkol sa mga nauna kay Kian. Hindi kami nagkulang sa paalala na tigilan na kasi ayaw sana naming mangyari kay Kian ang nangyari nga,” Claudio wrote on her Facebook post.

“Nguni't batid namin na maraming tinamaan. Yung mga dating nababahala na lalong nabalisa at yung mga ngayon ay nababahala na,” she added.

Several groups also held protests to condemn the recent killings last Friday. 

The rallies for Kian and other drug-related deaths coincide with the commemoration of the 34th death anniversary of late Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr.