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“We must assert our territorial integrity through stronger diplomatic relations with a vast array of countries, and not solely the US.”
“We are unjustly overtaxed and underserved. Lowering income tax must not be reduced to a mere revenue issue.”
“If there were projects for our sector such as distribution of seeds and livestocks, the beneficiaries are few, some of them are not really farmers.”
"As long as there is conflict, and as long as there is struggle from the masses, the government and state must always listen.”
“Our fight goes on and we won’t bring down our banners.”
“As an executive agreement, it is now within the power of President Duterte to terminate the agreement.”
Many urban poor pin their hopes on President Duterte’s plan to improve the country.
“It is one step, but government should also pull out soldiers, hold human rights violators accountable, and allow evacuees to go home and reestablish their livelihood, schools and communities.”
"Change is in our hands."
“President Duterte, let your fellow Mindanawons march with you in your first SONA. Allow us to hold a rally near Batasan.”
“…[t]his is definitely a boost in fast tracking the release of all political prisoners and augurs well for the scheduled resumption of the formal peace negotiations between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP).”
The dismissal of charges against Arroyo does not bode well for justice in the country and for any serious effort to stem corruption in government.
“As a national university, it is but appropriate that we take up the issue of peace talks. And because we’re coming from the SOS campaign, we know that peace talks should be based on justice.” – UP Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan
"It is a reprehensible, premeditated act designed to preempt the peace negotiations that clearly exposes the innate warmongering character of the AFP which continues to kowtow the AFP-US Aquino’s fascist Oplan Bayanihan," Rubi del Mundo, spokesperson of NDF-Southern Mindanao Region, said.
The participants of the National People’s Summit (and all the preceding sectoral and re- gional pre-summits) presented these pressing issues to the Duterte administration with high expectations that it will engage the people in consultations and discussions, through various means, towards achieving these much-needed reforms.
“With these reports coming directly from our affected faculty, we have seen that K to 12 is an assault on job security, the right to decent salary and benefits, and other rights of labor."
“The people are expecting, hoping for genuine change, but what is clear is that they could only achieve that through their strong mass movement.”
“Change is not served on the table. In reality, we should fight for genuine change.”
That these talks materialized less than a month after the first meeting of the NDFP emissary and the incoming President unmistakably indicates a never-before-seen reservoir of mutual trust, goodwill and understanding. It also speaks of a political will to pursue peace talks in earnest that has been woefully absent under previous administrations.
“He [Duterte] said that he will be a servant of the people in achieving just and lasting peace.”
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