#CardboardJustice takes protest vs summary killings to Batasang Pambansa

In the sea of colorful banners and posters camped outside the Batasang Pambansa Complex, a nondescript cardboard sign was eye-catching in its modesty.

Eighteen-year-old Rian Magtaan wore the sign reading, "Lahat tayo posibleng drug pusher, all lives matter" at President Rodrigo Duterte's first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.

The sign protests the spike in drug-related killings in the Philippines, which started when Duterte assumed office.

Magtaan was inspired by his writing workshop classmate, Adrienne Ondoy, whose #CardboardJustice photos recently went viral.

More people have been joining the movement, eventually making its way to the rallies that mark the annual SONA.

Magtaan said he noticed that people, including fellow militants, looked at him strangely.

"May mapanikil na tingin, na akala mo may ginawa kang kasalanan...may ganun, pero hinahayaan ko lang, hindi naman sila nagtatanong kung para saan," Magtaan said.

The experience was strange, seeing as they were all fighting for one thing or another, but Magtaan took it in stride.

"Weird pero nasa isip ko na lang...human nature 'yan, hindi ko na maaalis sa kanila yan," he shrugged.

He acknowledged that many of the groups outside the Batasang Pambansa Complex were supporters of Duterte, which may explain the glances.

But Magtaan urged his fellow Filipinos not to follow Duterte blindly, but instead criticize him if he makes mistakes.

"Hindi lang dapat tayo sumunod [kay Duterte]. Huwag natin siyang tignan bilang diyos. Tignan natin siya bilang isang tao na marunong magkamali," he added.

Magtaan stressed that the increasing number of killings every day was a cause for alarm.

As of July 22, 239 drug suspects have been killed, according to data from the Philippine National Police.

"Tumataas ang bilang, so dapat mas iadvocate natin ang mga kapwa Pilipino natin na magising sila na marunong dapat tayo pumuna," Magtaan said.

Magtaan's protest has received mixed reactions from people both offline and online.

He revealed that he has received death threats from Duterte supporters in Facebook.

But he underscored that people should learn to respect each others' fights.

"Natatakot ako pero sabi ko nga nasa pagitan tayo ng kapayapaan, kaligtasan, moralidad, at karapatan. Bilang Pilipino bakit ka matatakot kung tumatayo ka lang naman sa kung ano yung alam mong tama?" he said.

"Lahat naman tayo may pinapaniwalaan, kailangan lang naman rumespeto," he added. — BAP, GMA News