MANILA, Philippines – For Manlaban para sa Karapatan, the organizers of one of the September 21 protests to remember martial law in the Philippines, another declaration of martial law in the entire Philippines is not a far-fetched idea.
Martial law was declared in the entire region of Mindanao on May 23 due to the attack of the Maute group in Marawi City. Congress extended it until December 31. (READ: Congress extends martial law to December 31)
According to the organizers, martial law can already be felt even outside Mindanao due to the thousands of killings caused by the war on drugs and now, the huge budget cut of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). (READ: House budget debates: CHR gets only P1,000 for 2018)
"The threat of dictatorship is not a problem that we're just about to face. For us, this threat is already a clear and present danger," said Josua Mata of KALIPUNAN in Filipino.
Baby steps to martial law
Different human rights groups – Coalition Against the Marcos Burial (CAMB), In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement (iDefend), and Kalipunan ng mga Kilusang Masa, in collaboration with Tindig Pilipinas represented by Youth Resist – will stage the mass protest to "remind the public of the ills of dictatorship" and push for human rights. (LIST: Martial Law 45th anniversary activities, protests)
"We unite with everyone who is participating in the protest on September 21. For us, this is just a step towards uniting all anti-dictatorship forces in the country," Mata said.
He believes that the displacement of human rights as reflected in the allotment of the P1,000 budget to the CHR is a huge brick laid towards setting up the foundations of martial law. (READ: How the House voted for a P1,000 CHR budget)
"This is the foundation of dictatorship. And that is what we're facing right now," he added.
Schedule of Manlaban para sa Karpatan protest
STREAM 1
2:00 pm - Misa ng Mamamayan (UP Diliman Chapel)
4:00 pm - Martsa ng Mamamayan 1 (UP Chapel to CHR)
5:00 pm - Unveiling of Ka Pepe Diokno's statue (CHR)
STREAM 2
2:00 pm - Assembly/Program (in front of Bantayog ng mga Bayani)
3:30 pm - Picketing/Balatengga (EDSA cor. Quezon Ave. footbridges)
4:00 pm - Ecumenical Mass (Bantayog ng mga Bayani)
5:00 pm - Martsa ng Mamamayan 2 (Bantayog to CHR)
6:00 PM CONVERGENCE
MANLABAN PARA SA KARAPATAN concert rally at Commission on Human Rights
Protests in Manila by Youth Act Now
12:00nn Assembly at UST
1:00pm Program at Mendiola
4:00pm Program at Luneta
FOR SCHOOLS ALONG TAFT AVENUE
2:00pm Assembly at McDo Vito Cruz
2:30pm Start of March
3:00pm Convergence at Kalaw – Rappler.com