Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 3) — Protesters from around the Philippines gathered at Luneta Park on Sunday to attend a demonstration calling for the ouster of Vice President Leni Robredo.
Even intermittent rains in the afternoon did not stop President Rodrigo Duterte’s supporters from arriving in Manila to attend #PalitBise, an event organized to demand the removal of the Vice President from office.
The event’s organizers said the protest was a call to replace Robredo, who they say is shaming the Duterte administration with false accusations.
They said the accusations create a bad image for the Philippines and affects the country’s tourism and, ultimately, the economy.
“[We want] to tell the Vice President– well, to remove her and to put her in her place that it’s not okay to demean the Philippines. Because she’s not demeaning the President– she’s demeaning the Filipinos and she’s demeaning democracy,” Bruce Rivera, a convenor of the protest told CNN Philippines.
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) estimated about 4,500 people attended the event.
While organizers said the event was clearly a pro-Duterte, anti-Robredo demonstration, some protesters said they attended it for various reasons.
Several protesters told CNN Philippines they participated to rally for federalism and unity, and to celebrate the accomplishments of President Duterte.
Others emphasized they did not attend to call for Vice President’s ouster and merely wanted to bring certain issues to the fore.
“Hindi po. Hindi po namin alam yun. Basta ang alam namin to promote federalism… Hintayin natin ang tamang proseso kung sino talaga ang uupo. Huwag natin daanin sa ganitong sigawan na palit o ganyan ganyan,” Sitti Nihma Pasang, a protester said.
[Translation: No, We didn’t know. All we know is this is to promote federalism… Let’s wait for the right process to determine who should be seated. We shouldn’t do it through shouting for an ouster or other such methods.]
Emilia Mendoza, another protester said she is okay with having Robredo as Vice President, as long as Robredo does speak the truth.
“Hindi ako nananawagan na matanggal si Bise Presidente Robredo. Ang problema lang, huwag naman siya magsasalita ng wala yung katotohanan na ganun,” she said.
[Translation: I’m not calling to oust Vice President Robredo. The problem is she shouldn’t speak if it doesn’t reflect the truth.]
The Office of the Vice President’s legal adviser Atty. Barry Gutierrez, meanwhile, said both the President and the Vice President have expressed their commitment to focus on doing their job.
“They expressed a mutual respect for each other’s electoral mandate. If, despite this, a handful of the President’s supporters insist on taking a position contrary to his own, then it’s probably best if they take it up with him,” Gutierrez said in a statement.
