A NATIONWIDE initiative was launched in Cebu yesterday as a response to the call of the Duterte administration for participative governance.
Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr. graced the launch of the Kilusang Pagbabago (KP) at the Cebu Coliseum that aims to consolidate all forces supporting Duterte into an organized mass movement.
Evasco said that the KP serves as a citizens partner of the Duterte administration in its campaign for real change, particularly on its five focus programs–war against illegal drugs, crimes and corruption; intensifying social services; raising quality of life and living standards; peace and unity; and federalism.
Evasco said that as a partner of the Duterte administration, the group will serve as a watchdog against crimes, drugs and corruption through monitoring; educator of Duterte’s platform for change, peace and federalism; and defender of the republic during crisis and calamities (natural and man-made), including threats of national destabilization.
A press statement from Doris Isubal-Mongaya of KP Visayas said that the group shall carry out its roles and tasks with “mass participation of democratic and patriotic forces,” and in close coordination with concerned national line agencies and local government units.
During the launching, at least 5,000 community leaders in Cebu and neighboring provinces took their oaths as volunteer-members of a people’s movement supporting Duterte called Lihok Suporta, with Evasco administering the oath. He was joined by former congresswoman Liza Maza, the national chairperson of the National Anti-Poverty Commission.
Earlier yesterday, Evasco and Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña attended the blessing of the new KP office.
In a press conference, Evasco said some quarters may have been planning to oust Duterte because they are affected by the administration’s policies.
He said there are generals (in the military and police) who are allegedly into illegal drugs, and who have been affected by the President’s anti-illegal drug campaign.
Evasco said that there are also some businessmen, who were affected by Duterte’s order to end the practice of contractualization of workers, who are reportedly planning to support a coup d’etat against Duterte.