Left-leaning groups rally vs. Duterte’s ‘bogus’ revolutionary gov’t

Bearing red flags, raising clenched fists, and chanting slogans, militant groups on Thursday protested against what they called President Rodrigo Duterte's "creeping establishment of a bogus 'revolutionary government'."

Progressive groups including Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay), as well as human rights advocates and student activists, converged at Liwasang Bonifacio on the 154th birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio, one of the most celebrated leaders of the Philippine revolution against Spanish rule.

KMU blasted Duterte's supposed predilection toward Charter change, federalism, and martial law extension and expansion, which they said marks the setting up of a "US-backed dictatorial rule through a  bogus 'revolutionary government'."

"We condemn Duterte's fentanyl-driven rampage to establish his one-man rule in the country by intensifying the brutal crackdown of legal organizations critical to his anti-people policies and by suppressing the growing opposition from the remnants of previous administrations and even with his administration," the group said in a statement.

The group was set to set to march to Mendiola where pro-Duterte rallyists are conducting their own activity.

Police estimated the crowd to be "more or less 1,000" as of around 11 a.m.
Organizers of the protest have not yet issued a crowd estimate.

Also in attendance at Thursday's protest are former Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo and ACT Teachers Party-list Representative France Castro.

Duterte has flip-flopped on his stand on the establishment of a revolutionary government. After initially saying he would do so if "destabilization" attempts would continue and lead to chaos, he has since backtracked, saying Filipinos "should pay it no mind."

But despite Duterte's apparent dismissal of the idea of a revolutionary government, his supporters have called for it.

Even presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. has said that Duterte doesn't want to set up a revolutionary government. —KBK, GMA News