WITH A common theme of confronting threats to democracy, separate mobilizations to commemorate the first EDSA People Power revolution were held in different parts of Metro Manila on February 25, Saturday. This is the first EDSA I anniversary since the burial of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB) last November 18.

Groups from various sectors raised issues on labor contractualization, historical revisionism, death penalty, lowering the age of criminal responsibility, and women’s rights, among others. Some speakers also raised growing concerns about the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, which has reportedly seen over 7,000 deaths since July 2016. They cited the issue as contrary to the human rights-driven democracy of EDSA.

Blocking dictatorship

The crowd at the Libingan ng mga Bayani arrived around noon, comprised of anti-Marcos labor and youth groups such as the Block Marcos Coalition, Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK), Solidarity of Unions of The Philippines for Empowerment and Reform (SUPER), and Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), among others.

Luke Espiritu of SUPER called out the “barbarism” of the Duterte Administration, citing ignorance as a root cause. He blamed the ruling elite for this barbarism, but is optimistic that the youth today are more radicalized and are in solidarity with labor groups.

Afterwards, Joanne Lim of Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK) brought up issues of contractualization and free education.

While the Department of Labor and Employment released Department Order 168, which puts heavy regulations on contractualization, labor groups still believe the administration should remove the practice of contractualization altogether. Meanwhile, members of the youth sector have criticized the administration for failing the promise of “free education for all” by only prioritizing free tertiary education to the “financially disadvantaged but academically [abled].”

Ka Leody of BMP lamented that only the elite has benefited from the fruits of democracy after the EDSA Revolution, reiterating that the justice, education, and political system are “only for those who have money.”

He then called out President Duterte for the 7,000 deaths that transpired during the drug war. “Tama bang pag may mali, papatayin kaagad? Kailangang bigyan ng proseso. Hindi kailangang patayin kaagad (Is it right to kill if someone did something wrong? There should be a process, they should not be killed immediately),” he said.

To end the protest, Tin Alvarez of Block Marcos reiterated the demands of her coalition: to exhume the remains of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. from the Libingan, block all forms of dictatorships, and change the political and economic system. Towards the end of her speech, Alvarez called out her fellow political allies who are also against the administration but chose to stay silent.

The crowd dispersed at around 3PM. Before they left, they stood in front of the gates and chanted one last time: “Marcos, Hitler, diktador, tuta! Digong, Hitler, diktador, tuta!”

Power of We

The day was far from over. That afternoon, a different set of organizations headed to the People Power Monument (PPM) for the anniversary protest themed “Power of We.” The February 25 Coalition organized the mobilization.

Organizers said over 6,000 people went to the PPM, where two anti-Marcos burial protests were held late last year.

Groups began to crowd the premises at around 3 PM, some arriving in jeepney convoys and others marching from La Salle Greenhills, where a commemoration mass was held earlier. Among the mass attendees were Liberal Party president Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, Sen. Risa Hontiveros, Sen. Bam Aquino, and Sen. Franklin Drilon. Former President Noynoy Aquino and Vice President Leni Robredo also appeared at the rally.

Various sector representatives spoke onstage, all of them echoing the still-unfinished character of the democracy won in EDSA I.

Work in progress

According to Wilson Fortaleza of Partido Manggagawa, EDSA I just served as a culmination of the “small people powers” that had already been happening in various parts of the country during the Marcos regime. He added that laborers had always been at the forefront of such efforts, as they remain among the marginalized in society.

Another speaker from the labor sector decried the elitist administrations that came after the Marcos dictatorship. “Kinasusuklaman natin ang diktador at pasista, pero ang pumalit na administrasyon, walang ipinagiba! (We say we denounce dictators and fascists, but the next administration was no different!),” he said, adding that this was enough reason why we must continue working towards the nation’s vision set in EDSA I. He was met with boos from some of the audience members.

Critiques of the EDSA revolution are often critiques of the oligarchic order that followed EDSA I. Multiple bills seeking to put a stop to political dynasties have been filed since the 1987, including a 2013 Senate bill filed by the late Miriam Defensor Santiago. The issue was also among the main concerns tackled during the 2016 Presidential polls.

But for protesters at PPM, democracy is always a work in progress. “[When critics say] EDSA has failed…[we still believe] EDSA will not fail because Filipinos will always fight for justice and democracy,” said Dr. Guy Claudio of Akbayan.

For many of the speakers that followed, fighting for justice and democracy entails remembering.

“We call on People Power to rise again…Let us fight for our rights, for historical truth and justice,” organizers February 25 Coalition said.

For the President

A small cohort of Duterte youth stood near the monument as the rally at PPM went on. A small clash erupted as EDSA protesters and Duterte supporters argued with each other, particularly on the topic of extra-judicial killings and human rights abuses. “[That Duterte is responsible for drug-related killings] is still being investigated,” one of the Duterte youth said after being confronted by musician Jim Paredes.

The much bigger cohort rallying behind Duterte amassed at Luneta Park in Manila. Its organizers estimate a 400,000 turnout at the vigil-rally.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) was criticized for issuing a memorandum to government units telling people to go to the pro-Duterte rally. In addition, public vehicles were used to transport constituents to Luneta. DILG, in defense, said there was nothing wrong with expressing support for the president. They also clarified that attendance was not compulsory.

Among those present at the rally were Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, as well as top Duterte social media supporter Mocha Uson. They spoke before a crowd of Duterte supporters from across different sectors and LGUs.

Former jueteng whistleblower and now presidential adviser Sandra Cam was also present. Lambasting those who accuse Duterte of being responsible for the thousands of deaths due to the war on drugs, Cam said, “Masarap and pumatay at mamatay para sa ating bayan, ‘di ba? (It is good to kill and die for our country, right?)”