Groups to hold protest actions vs ‘resurgence’ of dictatorship

CEBU, Philippines - On the eve of the 31st anniversary of the People Power Revolution, various civil society groups vowed to thwart what they called the resurgence of the dictatorial regime under the Duterte administration, whose thrust they believed runs contrary to the people’s welfare.

Different sectoral groups launched a mass action yesterday manifesting their opposition to the proposals to reinstate the death penalty and to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility.

Akbayan Partylist Representative Tomasito “Tom” Villarin, who joined yesterday’s activity in Cebu City, believed that the allies of President Rodrigo Duterte at the House of Representatives seemed to rush the legislation process on the two proposed measures.

This, he said, was “very alarming” considering that the lawmaking process has been shortened, denying other congressmen the chance to present their arguments.

“Some 50 legislators would have wanted to interpolate but after the seven congressmen (spoke), the interpolation was then terminated.... Next week, they already want to do the voting to elevate the bill to the plenary,” Villarin said.

He was in Cebu yesterday for the Visayas-wide launch of the one-million signature campaign against the proposed revival of the death penalty and the lowering of the minimum age of criminal responsibility.

He described the two proposals as “illogical and unreasonable.”

“Why do we have to punish the child for the crimes manipulated by adults? Why do we have to kill a person to prove that killing [or murder, being one of the heinous crimes,] is wrong?” he asked.

He said they would continue to express their opposition despite being outnumbered and even intimidated by Duterte-allied congressmen, who allegedly told them they may lose their committee chairmanships or standing positions in the Lower House.

“There is this sense of impunity wherein our people are made to accept and believe that whatever the president says is the only truth and after 31 years, we don’t want that we will return to the situation when there will be a one-person rule,” he said, referring to the rule of former president Ferdinand Marcos.

Villarin said they aim to gather one million signatures before May 1 since it would be when the congressmen would resume deliberating over the proposal after their session break. The campaign was first launched in Metro Manila in January and has already gathered more than 100,000 signatures.

Sanlakas-Cebu secretary general Teody Navea said gathering one million signatures is possible because they would go to the schools, barangays, and even the parishes.

And in time for the commemoration of the EDSA Revolution today, they would hold a prayer rally to oppose “the resurgence of dictatorship” under the present administration.

Cristina Tenchavez of the Akbayan Women Sector said they would march from Metro Colon to the Plaza Independencia, where the Martial Law marker stands, past 4 p.m. It would be followed with a Mass, candle-lighting activity, and a brief program.

Meanwhile, Dennis Derige, spokesperson of the Partido ng Manggagawa-Cebu said the country's observance of the EDSA Revolution is losing its meaning.

“The EDSA democracy is a skeleton without flesh. The formality is there but the substance is lacking,” he said as we celebrate today the 31st anniversary of the bloodless EDSA Revolution.

He said People Power is hollow because the masses are still not empowered in terms of economic security and participation in policy decisions.

He said the "failed promise of EDSA has laid the fertile ground for the revival of authoritarianism and a revision of history."

“As workers we are witness to the victims of the disaster of three decades of EDSA democracy,” he said adding that instead of democracy, what is happening now is a "rigodon for dynasties and warlords".

PM also expressed apprehension over the suppression of political dissent with the arrest of Senator Leila de Lima, the number one critic of the Duterte administration. — May B. Miasco, Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon (FREEMAN)