Militants rain on Duterte’s first Indepence Day rites
A MILITANT group rained on President Rodrigo Duterte’s first Independence Day celebration as the country’s leader.
As Duterte began his speech at the 120th celebration of Philippine independence at the Museo ni Aguinaldo in Kawit, Cavite, members of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) – Southern Tagalog interrupted him with shouts of “Huwad na Kalayaan! Hunyo a-dose!”
(False freedom, June 12.)
Duterte, however, kept his cool, saying that it is the right of the protesters to practice freedom of speech.
“I will understand. Our Constitution guarantees, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and freedom of expression. I would just advise the law enforcement to just deal with them peacefully and [with]maximum tolerance,” Duterte said.
He said there was only one common denominator between him and the protesters — love for country.
“Nobody can ever question my love for the country, I was in Mindanao but I went all the way here. Why do you think? Ambition? It’s love of country and love of [the]Caviteno. Even the protesters, I love them. You don’t believe me? That is the truth,” Duterte said.
Duterte skipped the arrival honors and the wreath-laying ceremony because of the inclement weather.
He missed Independence Day ceremonies in Luneta in 2017 because he “was not feeling well.” RALPH EDWIN U. VILLANUEVA
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