UP CSSP Sociology Professor Gerardo Lanuza expressed his dismay regarding the hostility of the Philippine National Police (PNP) towards protesters who gathered in front of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) this morning, May 25, to reject the proclamation of Bongbong Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte, who they claim were engaged in “electoral fraud.”

Under the Marcosian Batas Pambansa 880, freedom parks like Liwasang Diokno, the protest venue, are exempted from the “no permit, no rally” policy. However, the police and firemen violently dispersed the protest causing at least 10 wounded according to Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD).

Police forces pushed the individuals back using their shields, consequently bombing them with a water cannon. Lanuza was one of the injured rallyists while SINAG’s associate editor and fellow journalists were also targeted by the water cannon.

Despite being described as “militants”, Lanuza asserted that the protesters weren’t armed and were displaying their maximum tolerance to the state forces who initiated the violent dispersal.

Kilusang Mayo Uno secretary general Jerome Adonis expressed his concern about the increasing violence against “legitimate and democratic mass movements” despite the fact that a new regime hasn’t even begun its term on June 30.

Adonis, however, contended, “Ang isang sigurado kapag nagpatuloy, lalala ang krisis, titindi ang mga protesta. Hindi ninyo mapipigilan ang mga mamamayang Pilipino.”

During the end of the joint Congressional session, viva voce voting only recorded six objections to the 2022 results were made by the Makabayan bloc lawmakers. 

Bayan Muna Rep. Caloi Zarate said, in a tweet, that “[Makabayan representatives] then walked out since we do not want to glorify the coming of the Marcos and Duterte ‘dictatorannical’ regime! ‘Dictatorannical’ aptly describes what they truly represent: Marcos Sr.’s dictatorship & Duterte’s tyrannical rule!”

The protesters amplified the call to reject another Marcos regime who is allied with another Duterte — a tandem criticized for forming allies with the country’s biggest clans of “unholy” politicians for their recorded crimes against the people such as graft and corruption, state-sponsored extrajudicial killings, and massive disinformation campaigns.

The Marcos-Duterte tandem is backed up by and allied with former presidents Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who was complicit to different corruption controversies such as Hello Garci, and Erap Estrada, whose convicted plunderer son, Jinggoy Estrada who also won the senatorial race, ran under Marcos’ Uniteam.

Bongbong’s and Sara’s fathers, Ferdinand Sr. and Rodrigo, are also involved in the long list of crimes against the people such as the horrors of Martial Law, huge economic debts, and massive human rights violations that plunged the country into further misery.

This afternoon, the Philippine Congress proclaimed Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte as the president-elect and vice president-elect, despite widespread clamor and resistance from various sectors, especially following the fraudulent and disinformation-laden 2022 national elections.

“You cannot suppress and erase the memory of Martial Law!” Lanuza argues and invites everyone to continue protesting against the incoming rule of Marcos and Duterte.

#RejectMarcosDuterte

Featured image courtesy of STAND UP