DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Militant youth group League of Filipino Students condemned what they call the continued state fascism under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“By honoring (former President Ferdinand Marcos), President Duterte helped propagate historical lies and whitewash all the dictator’s crimes against the Filipino people—plunder and corruption, grandiose lifestyle built upon the poverty and hunger of our people, gross human rights violations and brutalities, and massacre of freedom and democracy,” JP Rosos, LFS national chairperson, said in a statement Friday.
In Manila, thousands of students walked out of their classes to protest against the hero’s burial given to Marcos.
LFS led a strong contingent of students coming from other universities and colleges in the grand rally at Luneta Park, according to Rosos.
Rosos also pointed out that similar protests were held in different schools across the country from Northern Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Bicol Region to different parts of Visayas and Mindanao.
“The youth of today insist that Marcos is a fascist dictator and is not a hero. Fascism is a salient feature of a government operated like a large business enterprise and from which government officials draw enormous private profits and wealth,” he said.
The youth leader also called out “Duterte’s fascist inclinations,” saying that he has shown the inclinations to oppress the Filipino people.
“President Duterte dangles, almost regularly, his threats to declare martial law, suspend the writ of habeas corpus, and revive the mercenary Philippine Constabulary in the name of his anti-people and anti-democratic war on drugs. Also, the present administration is unapologetic for breeding terror and impunity,” said Rosos.
LFS pointed out that Marcos’ burial is a proof that “fascism” exist and it also sends a signal as clear as day that Duterte advocates and will persist in state fascism and the rotten economic and political system it defends.”
“Through the sneaky burial, the Duterte regime has showed us that it is okay to kill and abuse the people with impunity. Worse, you can be honored as a hero by oppressing and exploiting the people,” Rosos added. (davaotoday.com)
