DAVAO City–Participants joining the seven-day human rights caravan, Manilakbayan, appealed to the National Police to allow them hold a rally outside Batasang Pambansa in a show of support for President Duterte during his first State of the Nation Address (Sona) today.
“President Duterte, let your fellow Mindanawons march with you in your first Sona. Allow us to hold a rally near Batasan. Let this act be a symbol of our common desire to push genuine change and achieve a just peace for our people,” said Bai Ali Indayla, spokesperson for Manilakbayan.
She said that they left for Manila on Monday in what they called the biggest Manilakbayan with 3,000 participants composed of Lumads, Moros and farmers in Mindanao.
Indayla claimed that the contingents are victims of militarization and human rights violations.
In October 2015, “Manilakbayan ng Mindanao” was participated in by some 1,000 Lumads and human rights defenders to urge the then President Aquino to stop human rights abuses and killings of the indigenous people.
“Most have come from the countryside, victims of continuing militarization and human rights violations. They hope that the Duterte government will hear their cries and address their grievances,” Indayla said.
She said that they are travelling across the country to witness Duterte’s Sona and appeal to him “to hear our plea for change.”
Indayla said that some have been “marginalized and oppressed, our lands plundered and our kin lost because of past governments that waged war against us” through generations.
She appealed that they be allowed to march on streets to express their common hope for justice and peace for Mindanao.
“We appeal that you may understand and grant us the opportunity to march in the streets of Manila, to raise our voices and agenda for peace – genuine agrarian reform, protection of our ancestral land and natural resources, pursuit of peace talks with the NDFP (National Democratic Front of the Philippines) and the Moro liberation groups, and justice for all victims of oppression,” she said.
Indayla told a press conference that they are calling on Duterte to stop militarization, which topped the list of their 15-point people’s agenda of Mindanao.
She said that the rally might be held the traditional way, only that no effigies will be set on fire.
“This is not a rally against President Duterte but rally in support for his progressive and pro-people policies,” Indayla said. “This does not mean that now that Duterte’s in power, the people’s role in supporting achieve change and development that he promised to the people already ended. We have to support him).” (antonio colina IV of mindanews)
Disclaimer
Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.
