https://youtu.be/-qU5ZTngHmE
(Eagle News) – Vice-President Leni Robredo again gave voice to the opposition’s criticism of President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs and concern about the possible return to a martial rule under the present government.
Robredo spoke out during a gathering at the University of the Philippines which was attended by Liberal Party leaders including former President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday, September 21.
The event highlighted their call against the return of martial law, with the slogan, “Never Again” printed on black strips that they placed on their white shirts.
The group remembered what they said were the lessons of martial law 45 years ago.
“Iba-iba man ang paniniwala sa pulitika, andito tayo para magkaisa dahil sa pagmamahal sa bayan, ang paggunita sa batas militar…Nakakalungkot naman po 45 years na pinagdusahan natin ito tila hindi pa tayo natututo,” Robredo said.
The gathering was organized by “Tindig Pilipinas” a group wherein Aquino and his former cabinet members, as well as administration critics like Senator Antonio Trillanes and LP lawmakers, are part of.
Robredo spoke of the alleged “culture of violence” that she said seemed to prevail now.
“Sa paligid po natin, tila nag-umpisa na naman yung kultura ng karahasan, at yung kultura ng karahasan ang biktima ay hindi lang ang sumasalungat sa gobyerno, pero kahit sino, kahit bata, nagiging biktima ng karahasang ito,” she said.
“Ito po ang nagdadala ng takot sa puso natin, sa puso ng bawat pamilya,” she added.
Even as President Duterte and the Philippine National Police assured the public that they would not let criminal policemen to get away with their deeds and that the so-called extrajudicial killings were not state-sponsored, the opposition again blamed the government for this.
-Militants, opposition leaders in UP, denounce EJKs
Militants that gathered in UP, including students, denounced the EJKs and what they said was the return to martial rule.
Liberal Party lawmakers and senators, including Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Francis Pangilinan and Bam Aquino, and other former cabinet members such as former Interior and Local Government secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, were present during the UP gathering.
Senator Aquino said that their call for “Never Again” to martial rule was a legitimate concern.
“Yung panawagan po ngayon, ‘Never Again, hu’wag na sanang maulit muli. Itigil na sana ang mga pangyayaring ito, especially yung patayan sa ating bayan,” he said.
“Marami tayong hinahanap na reporma, after all yun naman ang pangako sa taong bayan…. Imbes na nakukuha ang reporma ang nakikita natin, pinapayagan ang patayan dito na nangyayari sa taong bayan,” Aquino said.
“Stop the killings, stop na ang patayan na ito,” the senator added.
After the program in UP, the group, along with members of militant organizations, marched towards the nearby office of the Commission on Human Rights in Quezon City. (based on report of Meanne Corvera, Eagle News Service)
