Thousands gather vs. Duterte in Luneta, UP

Thousands of Filipinos staged simultaneous protest rallies in Manila and Quezon City to either oppose or support the Duterte administration during the National Day of Protest.

The rallies coincided with the 45th anniversary of the Martial Law declaration of former President Ferdinand Marcos that oversaw the commission of gross human rights violations, rampant corruption, and disregard of civil liberties.

At the Luneta Park, the sudden downpour failed to dampen the rallyists' spirits during a multi-sectoral anti-Duterte protest organized by the Movement Against Tyranny (MAT).

The protesters brought together representatives from different political parties, human rights groups, church, students, youth and indigenous peoples.

The Manila Police District (MPD) placed the Luneta crowd estimate at 8,000 before 6 p.m., much lower than the organizers' figure of 30,000.

Among those present at the rally are Senator Francis Pangilinan, Gabriela party-list Rep. Emmie De Jesus, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, former Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano, former Bayan Muna party-list Reps. Neri Colmenares, Teddy Casiño and Satur Ocampo, film director Joel Lamangan, economist Winnie Monsod, actor Pen Medina and actresses Agot Isidro and Cherry Pie Picache, singer Bituin Escalante, and activist nun Sr. Mary John Mananzan.

"The parallelism between the Marcos and the Duterte regimes are becoming more pronounced, as the latter not only aids the political rehabilitation of the Marcoses but also employs the same fascist tactics and anti-people policies of the US-Marcos dictatorship, including threats to impose a nationwide martial rule," Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said in a statement.

"Duterte and his security cluster has utilized narratives and tactics straight out of Marcos’s playbook of repression, repeating and justifying rights violations, with increasing frequency and intensity," she added.

Pangilinan and Mariano, meanwhile, urged President Rodrigo Duterte to listen to concerns regarding the heavy handed approach to the campaign against illegal drugs, martial law in Mindanao, and stalled peace negotiations between the government and communist rebels.

"My unsolicited advice to President Duterte ay makinig sa lehitimo at makatarungang panawagan ng sambayanang Pilipino," Mariano told reporters.

"Nakita natin sa ilang pagkakataon na nagbabago isip niya [Duterte]. Sana pakinggan niya ang tinig ng mga tumututol sa napakarahas na drug war. Tutol tayo sa iligal na droga pero naniniwala tayo na ang solusyon ang kailangang holistic. Ang mga adik ay may pagkakataon pang magbagong buhay," said Pangilinan.

Sister Mananzan, meanwhile, challenged the public to get out of the comfort zone and do what is right for the country.

"We are descending into barbarism. We are never like that. Tayong mga Pilipino may dangal," she said.

The program featured speakers from various schools, organizations and sectors as well as cultural performances by various artists.

A simultaneous ringing of handheld bells and ringtones was also done by the rallyists to protest the unexplained killings attributed to the war on drugs.

Duterte had called off classes in public schools and government work for Thursday "in solidarity with the people's call against all excesses and shortcomings of the government, and with the people's desire to uphold the highest standards of integrity, efficiency and accountability in government."

But he warned protesters not to go beyond the laws during their rally so he wouldn’t have to use the police and the military against them.

Mendiola, UP

In Mendiola, militant groups burned what they called the "Rody's Cube" as part of their anti-martial law protest.

The cube had the faces of President Rodrigo Duterte, the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and a puppy or "tuta" and had three interchangeable/movable layers.

On the opposite side of the Mendiola Bridge near Gate 1 of the Palace, meanwhile, supporters of Duterte also gathered to stage their own rally.

Over at the University of the Philippines in Quezon City, former President Benigno Aquino III and Vice President Leni Robredo are among those in attendance at a mass commemorating the 45th anniversary of the declaration of martial law.

Anti-extrajudicial killings group Tindig Pilipinas offered a mass for the victims of human rights violations during the Martial Law regime of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos.

Aquino, Robredo and other Liberal Party stalwarts later went to the nearby Commission on Human Rights where a bronze statue of human rights champion and former Sen. Jose "Ka Pepe" Diokno was unveiled.

Some groups who attended the event at UP also marched towards the CHR.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno delivered the keynote speech in commemoration if Diokno. She lamented the similarities between the Martial Law and the current administration.

Sereno also urged the youth to follow Diokno's example, saying "we must continue to relive his struggles and articulate his thoughts."

A concert rally was also held in front of the CHR.

Pandacan-based theater company Teatro Balagtas during a play tackling the ill-effects of extrajudicial killings. Contributed Photo/Jessie Villabrille

Protesters also gathered at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City to stage a program that included a play about extrajudicial killings.

Pro-Duterte: Plaza Miranda

Meanwhile, another set of rallyists trooped to Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila in support of Duterte.

The protesters were given a free serving of lugaw by the "Duterte's Kitchen" which came in four mini trucks.

Aside from a free meal, protesters were also treated to some entertainment courtesy of some celebrities who were on hand to perform during the pro-Duterte rally.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Spokesperson Chief Insp. Kimberly Molitas told GMA News Online about 16,000 supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte flocked to Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila on Thursday.

During the "Tuloy ang Pagbabago" rally, several personalities, government officials and pro-Duterte groups were seen including Friends of Rody Duterte, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte National Executive Coordinating Committee, Kilusang Pagbabago, and Digong Duterte Supporters.

Duterte's allies were present including Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, ACTS-OFW party-list Representative John Bertiz, Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, whistleblower Sandra Cam while showbiz personalities like Viva Hot Babes led by Katya Santos provided entertainment.

Rain did not stop Pro-Duterte supporters in Plaza Miranda pic.twitter.com/DsPcktaMd8

— Marlly Bondoc (@marllybondoc) September 21, 2017

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) board member Benny Antiporda, one of the organizers, said around 50,000 Duterte supporters were expected to attend the pro-administration rally.

As of 4 p.m., authorities estimated the crowd to be numbering 16,000.

Antiporda slammed "Tindig Pilipinas" who offered a mass coinciding with the 45th anniversary of the Martial Law declaration.

"Well of course nakikita niyo hindi ho kailangan magtayo ng grupo. Hindi po kailangang magkaroon ng Tindig Pilipinas dahil kitang kita po ninyo Pilipino po ang nakatindig at hindi lamang ang Pilipinas," Antiporda told reporters after the "Tuloy and Pagbabago" rally at Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila.

He also called on those who are supportive of Duterte to speak out.

"'Wag po tayo susuko. Tayong lahat ay may boses, tayo po ay magsalita. Ako po'y nanahimik, isang taon po akong nanahimik, hindi po ako nagsasalita eh, pero ito po siguro naman it's about time na magsalita na po dahil nakikita naman natin safe na po, nagiging safe na ang ating pamilya," he said.

"Meron man hong nangyayaring hindi maganda, isolated po ito. Pero still, 'yun pong ating nais mangyari na kapayaan eh nangyayari na po, nag-uumpisa," he added.

"'Yun nga lang po sa halip na magtuligsa tayo at manguna eh baka naman pwedeng tumulong tayo, magtayo na rin po tayo, tutal mayayaman naman po 'yung mga kaibigan natin sa kabila, aba'y magtayo na rin po tayo ng mga rehab center. Ngayon 'yung alam niyo po na mga adik na kapitbahay niyo o mga kamag-anak niyo aba'y i-rehab na ninyo. Siguro eh hindi na sila mabibilang doon sa sinasabi nilang EJK," Antiporda said. — with reports from Joseph Tristan Roxas, Marlly Rome Bondoc/MDM/NB/BAP/KG, GMA News