FOR the second time, supporters of Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte organized the “Hakbang ng Maisug” along with a prayer rally in Cebu City— on the very day of commemorating the 38th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, where Duterte’s supporters called for honest governance, accountability, and peace and security.
According to Prof. Anna Malindog-Uy, a political analyst, such calls are highly relevant in the current administration.
‘‘The calls for transparency and accountability are very relevant. If you look at transparency and accountability, it is related to the blatant and latent corruption happening now in our country under this administration,’’ according to Prof. Anna Malindog-Uy, Political Analyst.
The professor also mentioned key issues such as food security, poverty, peace and order, and for the country to maintain peace, especially with China, due to escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
‘‘It’s a very important issue because we don’t want any major power to use us as props in a fight that we don’t want,’’ Prof. Uy said.
Prof. Uy could not help but compare her experience with the Duterte and Marcos administrations.
‘‘I know that we will not be harmed by the conflicts of other countries because PRRD will not allow any country to control the Philippines. The Filipinos should be the ones being heard, not the foreigners,’’ Uy added.
Meanwhile, Prof. Uy also tackled the issue of freedom of expression. She sees that Filipinos are now afraid to speak on issues in the country due to a lack of transparency and suppression of rights.
‘‘There seems to be an atmosphere where— if we criticize or ask questions on critical issues, instead of answering, those who ask will face backlash and end up in uncomfortable situations,’’ Prof. Uy also said.
To recall, in a program aired on SMNI, the hosts questioned whether the travel expenses of the House Speaker amounted to 1.8 billion pesos. While the House Speaker denied this, the network’s franchise is now under scrutiny and is feared to be shut down by Congress.
Prof. Uy hopes that this will not push through, as history might repeat itself when citizens revolted against their governance during the time of the late Ferdinand E. Marcos Senior, the father of PBBM.
Prof. Uy is calling for every Filipino to be involved in social issues as the fate of the Philippines rests in the hands of its people.
‘‘At the end of the day, if something bad happens to your country, Filipinos will suffer either in the short-term or long-term. So, what would you do? You need to be an active citizen. How would you do it? You have to make sure that you are informed about the issues happening in the country. And then you say something, you put your opinion out there, and you clamor for things like transparency and accountability, peace and security; because these are basic things that the country should have,’’ Uy stressed.
