MILITANT groups and other organizations have expressed their grievances against the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte for not keeping his campaign promise of alleviating the plight and uphold the welfare of the poor Filipinos during his term of office.
The groups composed of Bayan-Negros, Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Karapatan Negros, United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (Undoc) staged simultaneous protest actions at the Fountain of Justice in Bacolod City, in Kabankalan City and the Dumaguete City to commemorate the 46th anniversary of martial law on Friday.
They said a lot of poor Filipinos have suffered under the Duterte administration because of the high cost of basic commodities which were overstretched by the implementation of the tax reform law, the continued contractualization which Duterte promised to end in the first days of his administration, the extrajudicial killings that have increased as the campaign against illegal drugs targeted the poor drug addicts and pushers.
Undoc secretary-general Diego Malacad said the Duterte administration has a semblance of the how the former dictator Ferdinand Marcos has led the country where human rights violations were on the rise.
The poor Filipinos have been hit hard by the tax reform law where the cost of fuel rose up to P56 per liter and P58 per kilo of rice.
Kadamay secretary-general Berlita Ante said the warrantless arrest is really a problem as it led to human rights violations.
"We don't want another Martial Law in the country. The people could hardly live due to the high cost of basic services...Let us think deeply as this administration will not only kill the drug addicts but also the poor Filipinos with the high cost of living," she said.