Davao protesters link Marcos, Duterte to corruption
DAVAO CITY—More than 300 anticorruption protesters here are calling on both President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte to resign during the “People Against Corruption” protest on Bonifacio Day for failing to show accountability to the Filipino people.
Chanting “Marcos, Duterte, walang pinagkaiba,” and “Rebolusyon ni Bonifacio, isulong, isulong,” the protesters consisting mostly of youth, women, workers even some lawyers marched the entire length of Roxas Boulevard here, demanding full accountability from public officials, and projects and basic social services for the poor.
Protesters also demanded an increased budget for education as well as increase in wages and lowering down of prices of commodities.
Shouting, “Lahat ng kurakot, dapat managot (All corrupt should answer),” “Hustisya sa lahat ng biktima ng korupsyon (justice for all victims of corruption),” protesters briefly stopped traffic along Roxas Boulevard here before they proceeded to hold their program at the part of the boulevard fronting Ateneo de Davao University.
They also called both Mr. Marcos and the Vice President the king and queen of corruption.
Protesters raised the issue of P600 million in confidential funds unaccounted for that Vice President Duterte failed to explain. The amount, including the P125 million spent only in 11 days, was incurred under the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education when she was education secretary.
Cobbie Jan Canda, Kabataan chairperson in Southern Mindanao, said it was not enough for people to show their anger against corruption on social media; they had to join the protests to stop the practice that had deprived millions of Filipinos of the services that they deserved.
The crowd also rejoiced at the recent ruling of the appeals chamber of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, the Netherlands, rejecting the appeals by the defense counsels for the interim release of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
In Pagadian City, 3,000 people, mostly Catholic faithfuls and members of the Pagadian Diocese, joined the “trillion march rally” spearheaded by the Catholic Church. Similar rallies were also held in Iligan City and Bukidnon. —WITH REPORTS FROM RICHEL UMEL AND LEAH AGONOY
