Butuan City - An estimated 3,000 persons from different activist and socio-civic organization from Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur took to the streets, culminating in a rally here to express their support on the occasion of the inauguration of President Rodrigo Duterte.
They also asked the past Aquino administration to answer for the years of injustice to the Filipino people on Wednesday afternoon.
Pastor Rodulfo Baslot, chairperson of Bayan–Agusan del Norte pointed out that the mobilization also aims to challenge the new Duterte administration to pursue progressive change and stand to what was stated during the campaign period.
"This massive mobilization is a call demanding former president Benigno Aquino III to accept accountability for his gross crime committed against the Filipino people. Aquino should face the justice system for his criminal neglect and issues during his six years of presidency ranging from the Yolanda disaster response mismanagement to the Battle of Mamasapano fiasco, DAP pork barrel scam, the extra-judicial killings, lumad killings, Kidapawan Massacre and countless more," said Baslot.
"The victory of President Duterte is significant for us, since it is the concrete result of our people's discontentment over the pro-US Aquino administration, that pushed the people to hope for a better and bigger change.
"One of the most significant steps made is the planned peace talks between the Philippine Government (GPH) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), where the negotiation will also tackle reforms related to socio-economics, political and constitutional, which we hope would get us closer to achieving lasting peace.
"It is also important that the new administration continue the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and address the long dream of the Bangsamoro people for peace and harmony," he said.
Baslot added, "We are also hopeful that the agrarian reforms that have long robbed our peasant farmers of their rights to the land would be met and answered, as well.
"Our workers need better and just compensation toward non-contractual jobs, since it is estimated that around 66 million Filipino are living on an income of PhP125 a day or below, with 40 percent of those employed working on contractual basis."
Atel Hijos of Gabriela-Caraga expressed her optimism with the upcoming Duterte administration.
"This rally is significant because the new administration of Rodrigo Roa Duterte has shown us relevant programs for real change for the poor Filipino people. We are looking forward to real agrarian reform for our farmers, an end to contractualization of our workers, peace and order and for women the comprehensive social services, free hospitalization and hopefully a better education system.
"We are looking at all of these, as it will affect us women as wives and as mothers. We are supporting the calls and hope that the words of our new president that 'change is coming' will be realized and would lead to a better country for the Filipino people," said Hijos.
Goodfrey Dunque, representing Kabataan Caraga, stated: "We are here as the youth sector to support the call for the Aquino administration to answer for the years of neglect and injustices especially towards our youth especially on the significant issues on education."
"We are also looking forward to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte giving priority to the education of our youth as well as we are giving full support for the attainment of lasting peace and positive results for the planned peace talks this July," said Dunque.
All photographs below by Erwin Mascariñas, InterAksyon.com
A banner calls for the past Aquino administration to answer for six years of injustice on the Filipino people.
Role play depicting former president Benigno Aquino III inside a makeshift jail.
Protesters brandish a banner calling for real land reform.
Women from indigenous people groups carrying umbrella marked 'Lumad'.
Displaced indigenous people from Surigao del Sur carry signs seeking justice for the lumad killings.
Placards call for justice for lumad killings, and in support of peace talks.
http://interaksyon.com/article/129783/caraga-activist-groups-rally-in-support-of-duterte-presidency
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