Duterte declares Sept. 21 ‘Day of Protest’

Count him in. Thursday, Sept. 21, is not a holiday but a “day of protest,” according to President Duterte, who vowed to speak out against the low salaries and lack of benefits of government personnel.

Duterte said work and classes would be suspended on that day, the 45th anniversary of the declaration of martial law in the country, and that anyone could join anti-government protests planned for that occasion.

“September 21 is not a holiday. I have declared it as a Day of Protest. All those who want to protest against the government, the police, everyone… you go down and we will protest,” the President told reporters in Caloocan City yesterday.

“Even we from the government, we will protest because our salaries are low. We do not have equipment. We do not have allowance. Let us protest (against) our government together. There will be no work. If those from the government want, there are unions… they should participate,” he added.

The President also assured communist rebels who would participate in the protests that they would not be arrested as long as they do not violate any law.

“I’m asking you: do not commit crimes. No vandalism… all policemen and the Army will remain in the barracks. You will only see traffic personnel,” Duterte said.

He also encouraged underpaid media workers to join the protests.

“Those in the media who are underpaid, those who are not being paid by the networks, the stingy ones… you protest the owners,” the President, who has criticized several media outfits in the past, said.