Will activist group BAYAN carry a Duterte effigy during SONA protest?

Will the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) carry an effigy of President Rodrigo Duterte in this year's State of the Nation Address?

BAYAN secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. confirmed to radio dzBB in an interview that there will be an effigy during the SONA protest on Monday.

Reyes, however, declined to describe the effigy being created by the artist group, UGATLahi Artist Collective. He also did not say if they are planning to burn the effigy.

Through Messenger, the artist group gave GMA News Online a glimpse of the effigy.

Asked if it is an effigy of Duterte, the group said: "Kayo na po ang humusga."

Reyes did not say during an interview with radio dzBB if the effigy will be burned to highlight the group's prepared protest action during the President's second SONA.

'Show of defiance'

Reyes said that this year's SONA protest will be a "show of defiance" and very different from last year's.

"The mood will [be] different from last year's hopeful tone, as we have seen how the Duterte regime has unfolded,” Reyes said.

"The SONA rally shall serve as the national indignation against the extension of martial law. The protests will take place from Ilocos to Iligan,” he added.

Last year, BAYAN did not hold a protest action or burn an effigy during Duterte's last SONA.

“Noong nakaraang taon kasi, mataas-taas pa ‘yung optimism natin na merong mga magaganap na makabuluhang pagbabago,” Reyes told DzBB.

He said that their members will flock from as far as Southern Tagalog and Mindanao to participate in what they call “the people’s SONA,” which will start at 1 p.m. along Batasan-San Mateo Road in Quezon City.

Reyes said the University of the Philippines-Diliman Campus and government buildings of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Agrarian Reform and locations along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City will be among their convergence points.

Members of BAYAN-Southern Tagalog have already arrived in Metro Manila, and held brief protest actions in front of the national headquarters of the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Unfulfilled promises

Reyes said their group believes that Duterte has backtracked on his pledge to uphold an independent foreign policy citing the United States' support to troops in fighting local terrorists in Marawi City.

He also mentioned the collapse of talks between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines.

"Ang nakikita nating direksyon ay may martial law, ina-abandon na ang usapang pang-kapayapaan, hindi natutupad yung independent foreign policy na lalayo na dapat siya sa US pero ang US nakikialam ngayon sa Marawi at sinusupiortahan ang martial law sa Mindanao,” the protest leader said.

"'Yung human rights violations, napakalaking usapin para sa amin, pero parang ikinikibit-balikat lang ng Pangulo at hindi siya nababagabag sa dami pa ng magiging biktima nito,” he added.

Reyes also noted that the Philippine economic framework remains dependent on foreign investment, which he said hindered the government to put an end to contractualization. —Margaret Claire Layug/ALG, GMA News