Protesters march to Commonwealth for Duterte's final SONA

Hundreds of protesters from different groups held a unity march from University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, to Commonwealth Avenue hours before President Rodrigo Duterte will deliver his final State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.

In a video tweeted by Super Radyo dzBB’s Mark Makalalad, a 2D effigy by UGATLahi Artist Collective depicting Duterte holding onto power was placed in the front of the marching protesters.

The protest, dubbed “WakaSONA,” will parade “50 comics” along the avenue, according to Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary general Renato Reyes Jr.

Philippine National Police chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar said law enforcers will give maximum tolerance to the protesters.

Reyes said the groups are opposing Duterte's plan to run in the May 2022 polls and supposedly create a political dynasty.

In a statement, Reyes said they want Duterte's SONA on Monday to be his last.

“Hindi na sya dapat mabigyan ng panibagong 6 na taon sa pwesto at magtatag ng Duterte-Duterte dynasty sa Malacañang [He should not be given another six years in office and establish a Duterte-Duterte dynasty in Malacañang],” he said.

Reyes said they are protesting the government's alleged failure to adequately address the COVID-19 pandemic, the human rights abuses related to Duterte's drug war, corruption in the government, and Duterte's friendly attitude toward China, among others.

Reyes also said the groups will observe minimum health standards in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Grupo ng Partido Manggagawa, Sentro, Federation of Free Workers, and other progressive groups joined the series of protests along Commonwealth an hour before Duterte delivered his fifth SONA.

Mga militante, muling nagmartsa sa Commonwealth Avenue para magkilos-protesta. | via @MMakalaladpic.twitter.com/fNLujc5KIa

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) July 26, 2021

Grupo ng Partido Manggagawa, Sentro, Federation of Free Workers, nagmamartsa na sa Commonwealth. | via @VargasMannysen pic.twitter.com/3jffJMXDjK

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) July 26, 2021

Anti-government groups brought a tarpaulin which called for the end of the Duterte administration.

The banner cited: "Oras na para guminhawa, ENDO30."

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has assured the public that Duterte’s final address, set on Monday afternoon, will detail the roadmap to the country’s recovery from the pandemic.

'Policy blunders'

While some lawmakers praise Duterte's legacies, Advocates of Science and Technology for the People (AGHAM) slammed the President's performance in the last five years as it also stated alleged policy blunders that resulted in killings and human rights abuses.

AGHAM said the Duterte government surrendered marine and energy resources in the West Philippine Sea after reports of Chinese vessels incursion even with the 2016 arbitral victory of Manila.

"Marine scientists across the country have voiced their concerns on the continued damage of the marine ecosystem in the WPS due to the continued presence of hundreds of Chinese vessels in the area," it said in a statement.

"Despite the clamor from the scientific community of its impact to ecology, food security, and livelihood of fisher folk, the Duterte government refuses to listen and never wavered in its subservience to China," the group added.

AGHAM also accused Duterte of implementing a "militaristic" strategies in COVID-19 pandemic response when it should put in place scientific-based policies.

Another "policy blunder" the group cited was the contractualization and supposed lack of financial support for Filipino scientists.

"The deficient state funding for scientific programs and the budget cuts on state universities have dire consequences on the activities of local STEM workers," said AGHAM.

With this, it is also not surprising that graduates of Philippine Science High Schools "opt to pursue undergraduate studies abroad. It seems brain drain is getting younger," AGHAM also said. —Joviland Rita and Consuelo Marquez/KBK, GMA News