(Eagle News) – Thousands of supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte staged their own rallies for the President, saying that Duterte has done a lot for the country, and called on government critics to just support the government, instead of making plans to put it down.
On Thursday, September 21, the National Day of Protest, the supporters came from all over Metro Manila and Southern and Central Luzon to voice their appreciation for what the Duterte administration had done so far. They said the President’s policies have made changes for the better in their lives and in their communities, where they already felt safe.
They said that only criminal elements or those with bad intentions were the ones who have cause to fear the government’s crackdown against crime and illegal drugs.
“Gusto ko siya. Sana huwag sanang maalis dahil maganda ang patakaran nya. Tumahimik ang lugar namin,” said one elderly woman.
Another supporter said that the administration’s critics should look at the good things being done by the government, instead of focusing on its lapses that the government was trying to correct, including disciplining of errant cops.
“Masasabi ko lang sa kanila, dapat tingan nila hindi lang yun mga pagkakamali ng administrasyon, kundi pati yung mga nagawang maganda ni Pangulong Duterte,” he said.
Some of the President’s cabinet members also came to the rallies of the pro-Duterte groups in Plaza Miranda like Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and Energy Secretary Alfredo Cusi.
Bello said that many employees of the Department of Labor and Emplyment (DOLE) which he heads had asked him if they can join the rallies.
Majority of Filipinos still support the President, says rally organizer
Benny Antiporda, director of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) said the purpose of the rally was for the majority of Filipinos to show the public their reasons for supporting the President.
“Ito po ay pagpapakita lamang na ito po yung mayorya na natutuwa sa nangyayari sa ginagawa ng ating Pangulo, para sa ikagaganda ng nakararami,” he said.
“Ito po yung mayoryang natutuwa e yung sa kabila naman po ay minorya ngumangawa,” Antiporda stressed as he criticized vocal militant groups against the President.
“Dito po ay nakikiusap kami na bigyan naman po natin ng pagkakataon ang administrasyong Duterte na linisin ang problema natin sa droga,” he added.
Energy Secretary Cusi said that ever since the campaign of the President, he had called for change, and stressed his intention to fight criminality and the illegal drug problem. He had also expressed his support for a federal form of government
“Simula pa nung kampanya, simula pa nung eleksyon, naghayag na si Pangulong Duterte ng kanyang programa ukol sa pagbabago ng goberyno, from centralized to a federalized form of government, sinusuportahan natin yan,” Cusi said.
Organizers also set up a hotline desk and a presidential complaints desk for any concerns that they would want to reach the President’s office.