TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines– Several groups in Nueva Vizcaya province staged a protest simultaneous to President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), reminding the President his promise to address the environment destruction brought by mining companies.
Protesters from various militant and indigenous peoples (IPs) groups in Cagayan Valley marched the streets of Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya on Monday, July 24, to ask for the “unfulfilled” promises of Duterte.
Demonstrators gathered in front of provincial capitol to stage a program to call for a “real nationalist change.”
Some were holding placards accusing Duterte of being a “dictator” and a “fascist.”
They were demanding for real change, land reform, industrialization, human rights, free and accessible health program and the closure of two large scale mining in the province.
On the promise of Duterte to deal with mining companies, protesters said Duterte failed to deliver that promise as OceanaGold mining is still operating in its Didipio project in Kasibu town.
“Kaya kami ay narito para sa aming [mga] hinaing at iparating sa ating Pangulo ngayong SONA niya na sana ang pangako niyang napako noon pang nakaraang taon ay sana po ipatupad na sa ngayon, habang may pag-asa pa at hindi pa mawala [at tuluyang masira] ang kalikasan sa aming lugar,” Julie Simongo, a member of anti-mining group in Didipio.
The protesters also protested against the implementation of Martial Law in Mindanao, saying the rule is contrary to national democracy. Northernforum.net
