We in Konsyensya Dabaw are disturbed by the series of messages from the President that promote militarism and put civilians at risk.
President Rodrigo Duterte leads the unveiling of the 50th founding anniversary of Davao del Norte commemorative stamp during the province's Golden Jubilee celebration at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex in Tagum City on Saturday, July 1, 2017. (More...) (JOEY DALUMPINES/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)
These handmade postcards will be posted in a Facebook page created by Oni Montejo, a young artist in Davao, who hopes to help those affected by the fighting in Marawi City. One can get a postcard in exchange of pledging relief goods such as sanitary pads, diapers or first aid kits for the evacuees. The campaign "Artworks for Marawi" will run for the whole month of July. (Contributed photo)
A Lumad student holds an English textbook smeared with red paint to portray the attack against their school by paramilitary groups. The Lumad students protest outside the military’s headquarters in Panacan, Davao City on Friday, June 30. (Bhong Del Rosario/Kilab Multimedia)
The first year of the Duterte administration has been a virtual tug-of-war between those pursuing genuine and thorough-going reforms and those defending the status quo. However, it seems that in Duterte's first year, the Right--the militarists, the imperialists' lackeys and the neoliberals-- had pulled the rope farther to their side. Essentially, while the Duterte administration has initiated some pro-people programs and policies, yet, over-all it is the same mainly pro-imperialists, neoliberal, anti-poor and repressive policies pushed by the pro-US, militarists and neoliberals in the Duterte cabinet that are dominant.