Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 30) — If Andres Bonifacio were alive today, he would have scratched his head in confusion over how the concept of revolution has taken a turn for the worse — a division among Filipinos.
Thursday’s rallies were an irony of what Bonifacio Day means.
On one side were militant and left-leaning groups which have turned against the Duterte administration, especially after government terminated peace talks and the military stepping up operations against communist guerillas.
They initially held a program at the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila where speakers took turns lambasting the government – from the jeepney phaseout, human rights violations, to President Rodrigo Duterte’s supposed authoritarian tendencies.
On the other side were hard-core Duterte supporters calling on the president to declare a revolutionary government.
This despite contentions the proposal is unconstitutional and will basically make Duterte a dictator.
The two opposing groups wanted to hold rallies at the historic Mendiola Bridge – the usual venue of militant protesters.
But pro-Duterte groups moved in first, forcing militant groups to instead hold their protest action on C. M. Recto Avenue and Loyola Street.
Authorities had to keep the two groups apart, about a 300-meter distance between them, to maintain order.
One policeman was hurt when protesters tried to break away from the barricade, prompting firemen to hose them.
While Bonifacio led a revolution to free the country from foreign colonizers, militant leaders say Duterte’s supporters are mocking Bonifacio’s legacy – especially with the President’s questionable foreign policies of forming alliances with the U.S., China, and Russia.
Elmer “Ka Bong” Labog, chairperson of Kilusang Mayo Uno, said, “Ang rebolusyon ni Bonifacio ay ang kalayaan ng higit na nakakaraming mamamayan na binubuo ng uring anakpawis, manggagawa, magsasaka, at maralita ng ating bayan. Ang rebolusyon ni Duterte sa kabilang banda ay rebolusyon ng iilang elitista, ng mga panginoong may lupa, mga dayuhang makakapangyarihan.“
[Translation: Bonifacio’s revolution is about the freedom for the masses, made up of the country’s laborers, workers, farmers, and the poor. On the other hand, Duterte’s revolution is for elitists, landlords, the powerful foreigners.]
But pro-Duterte groups insisted the President is a modern day Donifacio – supposedly for his unquestionable love for his country.
They say the revolutionary government is a step leading to fulfilling the president’s desire to shift to federalism.
They said the rev-gov is the best alternative since the Legislative and Judiciary branches appear uncooperative to Duterte’s wishes.
The President’s supporters are leaving their case up to the President.
“Naibigay na sa kanya ang revolutionary government, bahala na siyang tumanggap. Kung minamahal niya ang bansang Pilipinas tatanggapin niya ito. Mahal na Pangulo, marami kami dito, nakikita mo yan, alam kong nakikita mo yan. Buong Pilipinas mula Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao nagdadaos mga tao, sambayanang Pilipino hanggang sa ibang bansa. Alam ko na nakikita mo kami,” said Tony Gonzales from the National Coordinating Council Network Revolution.
[Translation: The revolutionary government has already been given to him and it’s up to him to accept it. If he loves the country, he will. To our beloved President, there are a lot of us here, i know you can see this. The whole country from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, even Filipinos from other countries.]
Police estimate around 3,500 joined the pro-Duterte rally, while 2,500 were in the militant protest actions.
Except for that brief scuffle earlier in the afternoon, the were no reports of major untoward incidents.
Prior to the rallies, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the President had earlier said he does not want a revolutionary government. However, he added Duterte would not prevent citizens from expressing their support for it.
“The Chief Executive in numerous occasions articulated that he allows protests and other forms of mass action as long as public safety and convenience are not compromised,” he said.
Groups across PH hold pro, anti-RevGov rallies
Meanwhile groups in other parts of the Philippines also held rallies in support of or against the establishment of a revolutionary government
In Dumaguete, supporters of President Duterte gathered at Quezon Park to back federalism, and launched a Revolutionary Government Assembly.
Pro-Duterte Group Kilusang Pagbabago even prepared a manifest declaration where they gave the President power to change the present form of government to a federal one.
They plan to give the declaration to the President.
Meanwhile, in Northern Mindanao, thousands of people from different civic groups took to the streets to show their support for a revolutionary government.
Participants in Cagayan de Oro City held a motorcade around the city’s major streets and converged at the provincial capitol grounds, where topics on federalism and revolutionary government were laid before the crowd.
Representatives of the different civic organizations were given time to express support for the revolutionary government.
Jigs Padua, media coordinator of the United of State of Duterte’s Alliances of Mindanao-Region 10 said the group sees the revolutionary government as the only way for Duterte to fulfill his promise to put an end to the illegal drug menace and corruption in government.
He said the public should not worry, because the revolutionary government that the president threatens to declare is far different from the bloody and violent one.
He added, it would not be lawless and will still be governed by law.
In Cebu City, however, militant groups led by Bayan and its affiliated organizations held a Bonifacio Day rally protesting “Revolutionary Government threats” of the Duterte administration, in addition to calling for an end to killings in the country.
The groups also sought justice for the death of activist Lisa Badayos, who was killed in an ambush over the weekend while conducting a fact-finding mission in Negros Oriental.
The approximately 200-people crowd composed of drivers from transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON), students, vendors, and other civic leaders marched from the city’s Fuente Osmena Circle towards downtown Colon Street, where a program was held.
They called on President Duterte to stop alleged extra judicial killings supposedly brought about by the government’s war on drugs, as well as the crackdown on militant or progressive groups.
Dumaguete-based journalist Roy Bustillo, Cagayan de Oro-based journalist Alwen Sariling, and Cebu-based journalist Dale Israel contributed to this story.
