Bayan seeks ‘unity’ vs Bongbong-Sara alliance

Activist group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) has called on all “democratic forces” to unite in fighting a possible tandem of former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., son and namesake of the late dictator, and Davao City Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio in the 2022 elections.

“The Duterte-Marcos meeting in Cebu shows that the alliance of the two political families is still very much in play and remains the biggest threat to the democratic aspirations of the people,” Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes said in a statement yesterday.

Duterte-Carpio and Marcos met over lunch at the residence of House Majority Leader Rep. Martin Romualdez in Cebu City in celebration of the birthday of the latter’s wife, party-list Rep. Yedda Romualdez.

While it remains unclear what was discussed during the meeting, Reyes urged all democratic groups to unite as the victory of either a Marcos or a Duterte would supposedly mean continuation of a governance marred with impunity and human rights abuses.

“A vote for Marcos Jr. is a vote for a Duterte extension and for historical revisionism. A vote for Duterte, if she runs, is a vote for a Marcos restoration and for impunity or absence of accountability in corruption and rights violations,” Reyes said.

“It is for these reasons that all democratic forces should unite behind the call #NoDuterteMarcos2022 and oppose massive election fraud, widespread disinformation and escalating state terror,” he added.

Duterte-Carpio had earlier rejected the calls for her to run as president in 2022 elections. Instead, she filed her certificate of candidacy to seek reelection as mayor of Davao City.

President Duterte’s daughter, however, still has until Nov. 15 – the deadline for filing of substitution of candidates – to decide whether she will run for higher office.