News Roundup 28 January 2024
Jan 28, 2024 • 5 min Read
Marcos, Duterte supporters rally as family rift deepens | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Supporters of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte were set to hold rival rallies on Sunday, as a battle over the country’s Constitution highlighted a deepening rift between the powerful clans.
In the nearly two years since Marcos was swept to victory with the help of his vice presidential running mate Sara Duterte — the former president’s daughter — their so-called “Unity Team” has fractured.
Relations between the families have deteriorated as they seek to shore up their respective support bases and secure key positions ahead of next year’s mid-term elections and the 2028 presidential race, which the younger Duterte is widely expected to contest.
In the latest rift, Marcos has backed a campaign for the 1987 Constitution, introduced after his dictator father and namesake was ousted from power, to be changed to allow in more foreign investment — something both Dutertes have publicly opposed.
Critics warn the effort could pave the way for Marcos to get another six-year term, which is currently prohibited.
That would potentially put him on a collision course with the younger Duterte.
“Our constitution is fine… why do we give ourselves a headache when we know all along that this is in order to, you know, you want to stay in power,” the elder Duterte said in a recent interview.
Marcos has said the constitution’s political provisions, including term limits for public officials, should be tackled later.
On Sunday, Marcos will launch his “Bagong Pilipinas” (New Philippines) campaign in the capital Manila “to usher the nation towards change and development”.
The elder Duterte, meanwhile, is expected to attend a separate rally in his southern stronghold of Davao city that has been organised by opponents of constitutional change.
Full Story at: Marcos, Duterte supporters rally as family rift deepens | Philstar.com
Farmers, fishers say ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ offers no solutions to their problems | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Peasant groups denounced Sunday the so-called “Bagong Pilipinas” (New Philippines) movement of the Marcos Jr. administration, saying this fails to address the root causes of their struggles and offers no real solutions to the country’s problems.
The government will hold a rally this afternoon at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila to launch the “Bagong Pilipinas” branding, which started in 2023.
The Philippine Information Agency called the event a “historic gathering” that “aims to ignite hope and inspire participation in building a better Philippines through collective action.”
But for Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA), the administration’s rebranding will not improve the lives of marginalized sectors like fisherfolk “as long as the same burdensome economic policies remain in place.”
“The Filipinos need concrete steps to address the economic crises such as inflation and the loss of lives and livelihood due to environmental destruction, not a superficial rebranding,” PAMALAKAYA said.
According to the group, fishers remain the poorest in the Philippines, primarily due to the government’s failure to adequately support fisheries production through subsidies and protection of marine and aquatic resources.
Similarly, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said that “Bagong Pilipinas”—which is reminiscent of the Bagong Lipunan (New Society) vision of ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.—“cannot cover up” the country’s long-standing problems.
Full Story at: Farmers, fishers say ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ offers no solutions to their problems | Philstar.com
Romualdez urges public to attend, support Bagong Pilipinas rally | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has encouraged the public to attend and support the “Bagong Pilipinas” rally, which also features a fair with government services and financial assistance programs for eligible citizens.
“I encourage everyone to join and support the Bagong Pilipinas kick-off rally this Sunday. This event marks the beginning of a transformative journey toward a better Philippines, not just for us but, more importantly, for our children,” Romualdez said in a statement on Sunday.
“Unity has always been the bedrock of any successful endeavor, and in the pursuit of a better future for our country, it becomes even more crucial. The Bagong Pilipinas campaign is a call to unity, a rallying cry for every Filipino to come together, transcending differences and working hand in hand for a brighter and more prosperous tomorrow,” he added.
The lawmaker pointed out that the rally coincides with the second day of the 10th installment of Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair in Zambales, providing about P500 million worth of government assistance to residents within the province.
“Like the BPSF that we implemented to respond to the call of President Marcos Jr. to bring the government closer to the people, the Bagong Pilipinas shares the same principle: that programs and projects of the government should be made accessible to the people,” Romualdez said.
Full Story at: Romualdez urges public to attend, support Bagong Pilipinas rally (inquirer.net)
Bayan: Gov’t workers ‘required’ to join Bagong Pilipinas rally | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Some government workers from regional offices in the country may have been required to attend Sunday’s “Bagong Pilipinas” kick-off rally, according to Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan).
Renato Reyes Jr., Bayan president, provided INQUIRER.net photos of two memoranda from two government agencies directing its staff to attend the kick-off rally at Quirino Grandstand.
“The various agencies of [the] government are asking employees to attend,” Reyes told INQUIRER.net.
The documents were circulars from regional offices of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
One memorandum instructed the staff of a regional office to submit a list of at least 150 delegates to attend the rally.
However, none of the circulars have used the word “required.”
But in an interview over at Radyo Singko, former lawmaker Ferdinand Gaite said that he has received reports of some government workers being required to attend the kick-off rally.
“The usual parang hakot para magparami doon sa gagawin sa Quirino Grandstand. Hindi nga namin alam kung ano ito,” Gaite said.
(The usual sort of mass gathering to increase numbers for the event at Quirino Grandstand. We’re not sure what this is about.)
Full Story at: Bayan: Gov’t workers were required to attend Bagong Pilipinas rally (inquirer.net)
