MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the military to observe maximum tolerance during the state of the nation address (SONA) on July 23, saying he respects the people’s right to express grievances against government.
He said he is not stopping anyone or any group from holding protest actions during the SONA. He also urged members of the opposition to join the rallies if they want to.
“And if there are so many wise girls there, women, and itong mga opposition na mag-rally, of course you can go to rallies. Air your grievance. That is a constitutional guarantee,” the President said in a speech in Davao City on Friday night.
“Seek redress, shout on the streets. Gusto ko nga magpista kayong lahat (I want all of you to have a party). I will declare the next two days as bakasyon time. So that all the people can go there during the SONA at mag-demonstrate kayo doon,” he added.
Duterte said he would order the military and the police to retreat once they see the protesters advancing.
He said the only time he would order the security officials to advance a little is when they would have their backs against the wall.
To ensure that no violence will occur, Duterte ordered the police not to carry firearms during the rally.
“But as much as possible, I do not want to see any rifle, anything there except your baton and your shield. And you have to sacrifice. Either the rallyists will spit on you or curse you, let them be,” he said.
Duterte said police officers deployed in rally areas should calibrate their responses to the protesters. He said does not like violence to erupt between the government forces and the rallyists.
But he is not asking the military and the police to die.
“Just retreat and retreat until you fall into the Pasig River. Umakyat kayo uli at kayo na naman. Kami naman ha? Ganun lang ‘yan (And then you come back and face them this time), but do not be afraid,” he said in jest.
The President said even priests who hold grievances against his administration could join the rallies.
“Everyone, the anti-Duterte, priests, bishops cab join the protest,” he said.
Worst time for workers
The two-year-old Duterte administration is the worst time for workers because wages are eroded and labor rights are threatened, labor group Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) said.
PM chairman Rene Magtubo said workers are facing rough times with rising inflation and labor rights threatened with Charter change under the Duterte administration.
“Wages must be increased across-the-board nationwide to help workers cope with inflation. Charter change must also be stopped for it will lead to the deterioration of labor rights,” Magtubo said.
Contrary to employers’ opinion, he said the five-year high inflation rate in June of 5.2 percent constitutes a supervening event that should trigger another round of wage increases.
“But instead of regional wage boards acting in the face of worsening inflation, we call on President Duterte to use his SONA to urge Congress for a legislated salary hike,” Magtubo said.
He dared the President to fulfill his promise to abolish regional wages and institute a national minimum wage.
“Surveys have shown that people do not desire charter change and instead want better jobs, higher wages and lower prices,” he said.
The group expressed concerns over the proposed new constitution approved by the constitutional committee tasked by Duterte to draft the shift to federalism.
It vowed to mobilize workers in a campaign against charter change.
“Aside from the loophole that allows for term extension for the sitting president, the draft charter dilutes the rights of workers guaranteed under the present Constitution,” Magtubo said.
Meanwhile, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) urged the public to join protests during the SONA and highlight issues on the economic crisis.
“Rising inflation is driving workers, urban poor and peasant groups to protest government policies. Power rates, water rates, gas prices, food prices and transport fares have gone up. The economic crunch is felt across many sectors, including the business sector. The underdeveloped and import-dependent character of the economy makes it vulnerable to the effects of currency depreciation,” Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes said.
He said the call to scrap the TRAIN law would be one of the highlights of the nationwide protest actions.
“Thousands are again expected to gather in public areas nationwide, in militant yet peaceful protests,” he said.
Reacting to the President’s statement for the police to exercise maximum tolerance, Reyes said there have been no scenarios or plans for violence during the SONA actions as far as protesters are concerned.
He said it is the police that has been disrupting peaceful protest actions.
“We call on the people to speak out and march on SONA Day to demand basic economic reforms that address the ongoing crisis,” Reyes said. – With Sheila Crisostomo, Rhodina Villanueva