Protesters wear Marcos, Duterte masks at human rights rally

One protester wore a mask with the face of the late President and dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos. He was escorted by another protester who wore a mask with the face of Imelda Marcos and was carrying a bundled cloth with the face of President Rodrigo Duterte’s attached to it portraying the President as Marcos’ baby. (CDN PHOTO/MICHELLE JOY L. PADAYHAG)

“Never again! Never again! Never again to Martial Law!”

These are the shouts heard from over a hundred members of the Cebu Citizens Assembly who marched the streets of Cebu City, dressed in black, on Saturday afternoon.

The rally marks the 68th International Human Rights Day.

The coalition highlighted the issue on extrajudicial killings in the country, which they relate to the current administration’s war against drugs.

One protester wore a mask with the face of the late President and dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos. He was escorted by another protester who wore a mask with the face of Imelda Marcos and was carrying a bundled cloth with the face of President Rodrigo Duterte’s attached to it portraying the President as Marcos’ baby.

Teody Navea, Secretary General for Sanlakas Cebu, said they want to remind President Duterte that killing is not the solution to fight the drug problem that’s plaguing the country today.

“Most of the victims here are poor people. He (Duterte) should provide jobs to the poor so that they will not resort to any form of illegal businesses like selling drugs. Some of them have no choice but to resort to drugs,” Navea said.

The Cebu Citizens Assembly has also expressed alarm saying Duterte is slowly acting like a dictator and might declare Martial law.

Their protest started at 3 p.m across Sto. Rosario Church going to Fuente Osmeña where a candle lighting activity and singing followed.