President Rodrigo Duterte shakes hands with Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Secretary General Renato Reyes Jr. during a meeting at the President’s Hall in Malacañan Palace on Tuesday night. (SIMEON CELI JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)
— It was not the first time that activist leaders of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (New Patriotic Alliance) were received by President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacañan, but there was something different during the meeting this time.
Renato Reyes, Secretary General of Bayan described the mood of those who attended the meeting which lasted for more than an hour on Tuesday night as “serious.”
“Kaiba sa mga nagdaang pag-uusap, mabigat at seryoso ang pakiramdam ng mga lumahok. Naganap ang pulong na ito sa gitna ng tangkang palawigin ang Martial Law sa Mindanao at sa panahong nasa alanganin ang katayuan ng peace talks,” Reyes said.
This was the second time Duterte received Bayan leaders in the Palace. The first meeting was during his proclamation as President last year.
The meeting came on the same day that Palace spokesman Ernesto Abella announced to the public that Duterte urged Congress to hold a special session to discuss the extension of Martial Law in Mindanao on Saturday, the 60th day of Martial Law and two days before Duterte’s second State of the Nation Address. Duterte wants to extend it until the end of the year citing the need for more time to address the problem of rebellion in Mindanao.
In his letter to Congress read by Abella to reporters on Tuesday, Duterte said: “upon a thorough personal assessment of the current situation in Marawi City and other parts of Mindanao, and taking into account the reports and recommendations of the Secretary of National Defense as Martial Law Administrator; the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as Martial Law Implementor; and the Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), I have come to the conclusion that the existing rebellion in Mindanao which has prompted me to issue Proclamation Number 216 on 23rd May 2017 will not be quelled completely by 22nd July 2017, the last day of the 60-day period provided under Section 18, Article 7 of the 1987 Constitution. For this reason, then because public safety requires it, I call upon the Congress to extend until 31st of December 2017, or for such a period of time as the Congress may determine the proclamation of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the whole of Mindanao.”
Reyes, whose group is critical of the imposition of Martial Law, said it was them who requested to meet Duterte.
Lumad leaders, workers and farmers from Mindanao also met with Duterte.
In the photos released by Malacañang on Tuesday night, lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc including Bayan Muna Partylist Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, Anakpawis Partylist Rep. Ariel Casilao and Kabataan Partylist Rep. Sarah Jane Elago were also seen joining the meeting with the President.
Former Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Liza Maza, who is now the lead convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission and Bayan Southern Mindanao Secretary-General Sheena Duazo were also present.
Differences
Reyes said there was a striking difference in the position of their group and Duterte on extending the Martial Law.
“Desidido ang Pangulo na palawigin ito. Desidido tayong labanan ito (The President is determined to extend it. We are determined to
oppose it),” he said.
On the peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, Reyes said Duterte wants a “prolonged ceasefire,” which Reyes said was the same demand from the military.
He said they also failed to get Duterte’s commitment to end militarization in the communities and the attacks against Lumad schools during the meeting.
Reyes said Duterte sees this as a “reality of the civil war.”
“Nais sana naming maghatid ng mas magandang balita sa mga kasama na naghihintay sa Mendiola, pero hindi ito ang sitwasyon. Matingkad kanina ang mga pagkakaiba sa mga mayor na isyu (We wanted to deliver good news to our comrades waiting in Mendiola, but this was not the situation. The differences on major issues are striking),” he said.
Positive points
Meanwhile, Reyes said there were some issues where they can come to a possible agreement with Duterte including the end to contractualizaion of workers, free tuition in state colleges and universities and land reform.
Duterte also assured the militants that there will be no problem on their plan to hold a protest rally near the Batasan Complex on the day of his SONA.
“Hindi naman daw niya ito pipigilan o haharangan (He said he will not stop or block the protest),” Reyes added.
He also said Duterte received the letters from political prisoners and mentioned that they had positive engagements on the release of sickly and elderly political prisoners.
However, Duterte gave no definite commitment yet, Reyes said. He said even on the issue of foreign policy, Duterte did not commit to scrap the Visiting Forces Agreement despite announcing that he will pursue an independent foreign policy.
After their meeting with the President, Reyes said they concluded “there is a need to unite in advancing the democratic issues of the people.”
“Matapos ang pag-uusap, lalong luminaw ang pangangailangan ng sama-sama at militanteng pagkilos para maipanalo ang mga kagyat na makabayan at demokratikong interes ng masa, at makamit ang pagbabago. Alam natin kung kanino tayo dapat umasa,” he said.(davaotoday.com)
