Classes, gov’t work suspended on Sept. 21

Government work and classes in public and private schools are suspended on September 21 after President Duterte declared it as the “National Day of Protest.”

A Palace source bared this Monday, saying the President is even encouraging those who want to air their sentiments against the government to go out to the streets and join the expected groups of protesters on September 21.

However, the President clarified his earlier statement and said that September 21, the 45th anniver-

sary of the late President Ferdinand Marcos’ declaration of martial law, is not a holiday.

Duterte, during his visit to the wake of PO3 Junior Hilario in North Caloocan Monday afternoon, said there would also be no work on that day so anyone who wants to join can participate.

“No, September 21 is not a holiday. I have declared it as a ‘National Day of Protest.’ Lahat ng gustong mag-protesta laban sa gobyerno, laban sa pulis, sa military, o lahat, magbabaan kayo diyan, mag-protesta kami (Those who want to protest against the government, the police, the military, everything, you can all come down and do so),” he said.

“Kami ring mga taga-gobyerno, ako mag-protesta rin kasi ang aming sahod maliit. Wala kaming equipment, wala kaming mga allowance. Sabay tayong mag-protesta sa gobyerno natin (Same for those in the government. I would also protest because are salaries are small. We don’t have equipment or allowance. Let’s protest together),” he added.

Duterte also invited the members of the media who are not being paid enough for their work.

“Pati media. Kayong mga underpaid sa media, hindi binabayaran nitong mga… Kuripot itong mga… Ay sus. O, tanungin mo ako, sapat ba [ang bayad] (Even those underpaid in media. Those who are not being paid right. Those cheap... Come on. Ask me. Are you being paid right)?” he asked.

Duterte also reiterated that he will not deploy a big number of policemen on September 21 as the uniformed men will “stay in the barracks.”

“Lahat kasi ang pulis pati ang Army sa barracks lang. Ang makikita ninyo diyan ang traffic lang (The Police and the Army will remain the barracks. You will only see a few to man the traffic),” he said.

However, Duterte renewed his earlier statement that he will not condone crimes committed by the protesters on September 21.

“But do not, for the life of me, I’m asking you, do not commit crimes. No vandalism,” he pleaded.

The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) had earlier said that the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) is now preparing the Executive Order (EO) suspending classes and government work on the reported day of massive protests in Metro Manila.

The EO is expected to be released either today or tomorrow, Wednesday.

“He [President Duterte] will announce no work, he will also announce no classes sa (in the) National Capital Region para pagbigyan ang oposisyon sa mga gustong mag-rally (to allow the people who want to join the rally),” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar had earlier said.

He added that the Department of National Defense’s (DND’s) intelligence people and field people are not seeing any indication of a massive demonstration by the leftists like those during the time of Marcos.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Civil Defense’s third quarter national simultaneous earthquake drill would also be held on Thursday but said the date was immediately decided upon after the second quarter drill on June 27.

The OCD said that there is no politics behind the decision.