500 protest in front of Camp Aguinaldo in 45th anniversary of martial law

September 21, 2017

Around 500 members of Bayan Southern Tagalog movement against tyranny protested in front of Camp Aguinaldo on Thursday morning during the 45th anniversary of the declaration of martial law in the Philippines

Paul Carson, the group's media liaison, said at least 500 to 700 people joined the one-hour protest in front Gate 4 of Camp Aguinaldo.

"The protest was a registration of the region' concerns against the militarization of rural communities, human rights violations by military forces and the general fascist direction of the administration", Carson said.

"For the military, it has been thorough various operational plans, contingency to date this administration has implemented Oplan Kapayapaan... with so many force evacuations, serial bombing to rural communities and arrest and killing of civilians", he said.

The program started at 9 :40 am. At least 170 policemen from Quezon City Police District stood in front the protesters to secure peace throughout the program, a police officer said.

The group's spokesperson, Pedro Gonzales, said the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte is worst than the time of former President  Ferdinand Marcos.

"During Marcos...when we see someone killed on the streets we call that salvage the difference now its not salvage but a victim of tokhang. The difference is that in essence its worst now...Thousands were killed", Gonzales said.

The group claimed the numbers of victim's from the war on drugs of the government has risen to 8,000 to 13,000 since Duterte took presidency in 2016.

"This will not end, this is just the start until there are people that are not contented in our society, until their are poor people", Gonzales said.

The group burned an image of Duterte and Marcos at the end of their protest while shouting "no to martial law".

The group proceeded to Luneta where it will meet with other rallyists to protest against the Duterte administration, Carson said. Alanna Ambi/DMS