‘Running priest,’ farmers, nun fast for ‘dying democracy’

While February 25 signals the celebration of the 1986 People Power Revolution, there are those who grieve the "dying spirit" of what the historic peaceful uprising represented.

Activist priest Fr. Robert Reyes, along with another fellow priest, a nun, and five farmers, is fasting for democracy, which he said is currently “very sick” and on the brink of demise.

“These are signs of dying democracy. The death of democracy, I’m not celebrating it. I’m fasting for it. I’m praying for it,” he told GMA News Online on Saturday, a day ahead of the 32nd People Power Revolution anniversary.

“It’s dying. It’s very sick. But we might be able to save it... but it can only be saved if people will wake up,” he added.

Activist priest Fr. Robert Reyes is one of eight people who are fasting due to “a dying democracy.” They have been at the People Power Monument since Feb. 16 and have been fasting for eight days. pic.twitter.com/r2tz9bVANv

— Jessica Bartolome (@jacbartolome) February 24, 2018

Reyes, who is part of the Dasal at Ayuno Laban sa Cha-cha Para sa Demokrasya group, said they were on their eighth day of fasting, which they started last Saturday, February 17.

Reyes said the farmers’ health have started to deteriorate so they might end their fasting tomorrow, Sunday. The priest, however, said he would continue.

Asked when he will break his fast, he shrugged and said that in 2005, he survived 44 days of fasting in protest against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

“In July 10, 2005 until August 22, 2005, I sat there in a corner and fasted for 44 days against Gloria,” he recalled.

“And she’s back. And now Gloria’s with [President Rodrigo] Duterte. It’s a very nice nightmare. It’s getting more and more complicated and uglier and bloodier and more bizarre. Our politics is bizarre,” he said.

Reyes and the rest of the fasting individuals have been camping out at the People Power Monument since February 16. They said they have repeatedly been threatened to be evicted by the police.

Since camping out at the site, the group has been holding daily masses and has been praying the rosary daily.

Later in the day, other groups are set to join them to protest the proposed Charter change, and the bloody war on drugs.

Reyes said he was hopeful that Filipinos will be able to hurdle obstacles under Duterte’s rule. However, they are worried that his political culture will live on.

“It took us 21 years to overthrow Marcos...but Duterte will not live to 92. He is 72 already. But his mentality, his philosophy, and his political culture can outlive even the present trapo politicians. That’s what we’re worried about. It can contaminate the lives of young people and make them think this is okay,” Reyes said.

“I feel that there’s a lot to do, and a lot that has been done wrong, and a lot that has not been done. Let’s learn from our mistakes,” he added. — MDM, GMA News