MANILA (Rappler/Pacific Media Watch): Critics and supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte clashed along the iconic highway EDSA as the Philippines marked the 31st anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution at the weekend.
A scuffle erupted after about 7 Duterte supporters arrived at a rally of thousands of Duterte critics near the People Power Monument along EDSA corner White Plains Avenue, Quezon City, on Saturday.
The rally was scheduled at around 4pm to oppose the killings of more than 7000 people in President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, among other things.
The 7 Duterte supporters reached the venue of the rally around 5 minutes after it began at 4:30 pm on Saturday. With 3 of them wearing the traditional Filipino barong, they raised their fist in trademark Duterte fashion.
Singer Jim Paredes, one of Duterte’s most prominent critics, berated the Duterte supporters.
He continued: “Tell me: Gusto mo ba si Duterte? (Do you like Duterte?)”
“Of course,” the Duterte supporter said.
‘Lie to yourself’
Paredes responded: “He’s not responsible for 7000 deaths?”
“It’s still being investigated,” the supporter said.
Paredes then laughed in a mocking way: “Okay, great. Lie to yourself!”
At some point, the Duterte Youth members left the site. They were told to go to Luneta where thousands of Duterte supporters had gathered.
They asked for their banner to be returned but it was nowhere to be found.
The clash ended the way EDSA is often remembered: One of Duterte’s critics gave flowers to one of Duterte’s supporters.
- Aside from marking the 31st anniversary of the 25 February 1986 uprising that toppled dictator Ferdinand Marcos, many protesters were speaking out against extrajudicial killings and other ‘abuses’ under President Rodrigo Duterte.
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