“You took Jonas away from us. Now, you want the history of Jonas’ own abduction and disappearance erased from history. Stop abducting your own citizens. The ones who should be made to pay for the violations are the very criminals within your ranks.”

“It’s the beginning of the end of the local rice industry. Even with the rice industry enhancement fund, the local rice industry do not stand a chance with massive rice imports.”

Now on its seventh year, Filipino women’s rights advocates once again took the streets of Manila to dance and protest the misogyny and rising tyranny in the country.

These are attempts by those in power to drown out the voice of the marginalized and the oppressed, displaying Duterte’s fear of committed journalism that seeks to inform, educate and guide the public in decision-making.

“We wonder what the rush is all about. Of course they may cite court orders and logistics. But really, whisking away from lawyers, friends and kin a sick, frail and gentle though firm old man of peace like that to a far-flung place where they allege him to have murdered and attempted to kill government soldiers?”