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Philippine churches set to lead anti-dictatorship protest

Protesters said the event does not aim to destabilize the government but is a 'united stand against dictatorship'
Philippine churches set to lead anti-dictatorship protest

Church and labor groups lead a protest in Manila on Aug. 27 ahead of the 'United People's Action Against Dictatorship' rally on Sept. 21. (Photo by Jire Carreon)

Published: September 18, 2018 04:47 AM GMT
Updated: September 18, 2018 04:48 AM GMT

Church groups in the Philippines are set to spearhead an "anti-dictatorship" protest in Manila on Sept. 21 to mark the 46th anniversary of the declaration of martial law by late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Marcos declared martial law on Sept. 21, 1972, which was to remain in force until 1981.

Church leaders, however, said the demonstrations are not part of what government spokesmen described were "a large destabilization plot" by critics of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Last year, Duterte canceled classes in public schools and gave government workers a holiday on Sept. 21 after declaring the anniversary a National Day of Protest, however, his tune has changed significantly this year.

Nardy Sabino of the activist group Promotion of Church People's Response said the president's "blood lust has greatly impinged on the reputation and economic stability" of the country.

"We must stand for truth and force the Duterte administration to account for human rights violations and the mismanagement of the economy," said Sabino, referring to the president's deadly war on drugs that has claimed thousands of victims, according to rights groups.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo earlier supported a call for people to join the protest rallies, saying that, "in a healthy democracy there should be a strong opposition to abuse of power."

The prelate said that the destabilization claims by government spokesmen is "an old tune strongmen use when they land in hot water."

Catholic lay leaders, priests, seminarians, and nuns will start the protest rally with the celebration of a Mass at the historic San Agustin church in the old walled city of Intramuros.

Protestant church groups will hold a separate service at a United Methodist church a few kilometers away in Manila.

They will then meet up with students, workers, and other sectors for the "United People's Action Against Dictatorship" rally in Luneta Park.

In a televised address on Sept. 11, Duterte dared the protesters to stage the rally "go ahead, you band together ... then you go launch a coup d'etat."

Activist groups, however, said the president's claim of a destabilization plot is a "mere distraction."

"Duterte's paranoid tirades about alleged alliances and ouster plots are just pathetic attempts to distract the Filipino people from pressing issues," said youth leader Einstein Recedes.

The United People's Action, an alliance of various groups organizing the Sept. 21 rally, said "resisting tyranny is not destabilization."

"There is no 'massive destabilization' on Sept. 21. There is only a united stand against dictatorship, then and now," read the group's statement.

Inday Espina-Varona contributed to this report.

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