Organized by Barug-PDP Laban, BOPK: Thousands join battle of rallies

CEBU, Philippines — If estimates were to be believed, the gathering of allies organized by Barug-PDP Laban Cebu City Chapter yesterday pulled in more numbers compared to the one organized by the group of Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

According to the police, an estimated 45,000 attended the pro-Duterte concert at Plaza Independencia while an estimated 2,500 attended the thanksgiving Mass at Plaza Sugbo.

The crowd at Plaza Independencia is way more than the expected 10,000 while the crowd at Plaza Sugbo is way below the expected 15,000.

Initially, the police estimated the crowd at Plaza Independencia only at 6,000 but said a few hours later the numbers actually reached 45,000.

Pro-Duterte concert

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, president of the Barug-PDP Laban Cebu City Chapter,  said the crowd at Plaza Independencia is proof that the public still trusts the police.

“I ask everyone after you have thought clearly about and understood fully what it is to be a policeman to act justly towards them. All together, let us declare with all the vigor and passion that we could summon, ‘we trust you (police) and we will support you all the way,’” he said in his speech.

Labella denounced attempts to “demonize” the police, saying it is “disrespectful” to the memory of the many policemen who have fought and died for the peace and order.

The concert began with a Mass at 4 p.m.

Aside from Labella, the other personalities present at the plaza included Office of the Presidential Assistant for Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino, Cebu City Police Office Director Royina Garma, Police Regional Office-7 Director Debold Sinas, Francis Tolentino, Georgia Osmeña, former congressman Antonio Cuenco, and former mayor Alvin Garcia, among others.

Councilors Raymond Alvin Garcia, Joel Garganera, Jose Daluz III, Eduardo Rama, Jocelyn Pesquera, Renato Osmeña, Jr., Noel Wenceslao, and Ernest Herrera were also present.

Former mayor Michael Rama also attended the Holy Mass.

Garma thanked Barug-PDP Laban for holding an event that could boost the morale of the police force.

“We are inspired, motivated, and overwhelmed. Makikita namin na sumusuporta ang community. Nakita namin na the people still believe in us. Nakakataba ng puso hindi katulad ng iba na ikaw dapat na someone na symbol of a certain place, mag-ingon pa gyud na walang trust or something. It’s awkward,” she told The FREEMAN.

She asked the public to continue supporting and cooperating with the police.

She said over 1,000 police officers from different stations and offices across Cebu attended the event.

Tolentino, in a separate speech, urged attendees to continue supporting the police organization because they exist to “protect the people.”

“Meron pong nagkakamali pero konti lang yun,” he said.

Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia said the group decided to hold the pro-Duterte and pro-police rally because of reports that the police were accused of being behind the spate of killings here.

“Sa Barug PDP, we feel nga grabe ang pagtamay ug pagdaog daog sa mga police. Gi blame sila for being criminals. Daghan kaayo sila og gipamasangil against the police. Among tan-aw is gidaog daog sila. Ug low kaayo ilang morale. We want to show them that we are also supporting them,” Garcia said.

BOPK

A few blocks away at the City Hall, several of those who attended the gathering at Plaza Sugbo walked up the stage to thank the city government for the services it is giving to their sector.

Those who spoke come from various groups, including senior citizens, persons with disabilities, sustainable livelihood program associations, women’s sector, ‘habal-habal’ drivers associations, Muslim community, city scholarship beneficiaries, and Sangguniang Kabataan, among others.

Osmeña said it was important to celebrate the Mass because of the numerous blessings the city received, including the resolution of the 93-1 land swap deal, approval of the Kawit Island project, approval of the sanitary landfill project in Barangay Binaliw, and victory in the ABC election, among others.

Osmeña even thanked Duterte for approving the implementation of the Cebu-Bus Rapid Transit, which aims to help address the worsening traffic condition in the city.

He thanked his allies in the City Council for helping him pass projects.

“Sa atong majority sa city council, nagpasalamat gyud ko kaninyo. You will not have any regrets, maningkamot gyud ko ang atong mga damgo, ang atong mga plano sa umaabot nga panahon, mobalik gyud ang kaayuhan,” Osmeña said.

He assured attendees at the plaza:

“This is not about Tommy Osmeña, this is about you. If you will call me in the middle of the night and see injustice because you are going to be put in jail, I will get you out. Kining mga ordinaryo nga mga tawo, wala kini sila’y connection sa ibabaw, usa ra ilahang connection ang akong cellphone number nga naa sa Facebook. Whenever you call me, I will be there,” he said.

Present at the gathering were North District Representative Raul Del Mar and Councilors Margarita “Margot” Osmeña, Alvin Arcilla, Eugenio Gabuya Jr., Joy Augustus Young, Sisinio Andales, Mary Ann Delos Santos, David Tumulak, and Franklyn Ong, the president of the Association of Barangay Councils - Cebu City Chapter.

Elected officials of the Sangguniang Kabataan and some department heads of the city government were also present.

Osmeña commended barangay captains allied with him for their loyalty to the ABC election last July 30 despite the reported vote buying.

“Pasalamat ta sa atong Sto. Niño, thank you for being kind to us, we are now strengthened with your challenge. Hinaot pa unta nga atong ipakita sa tanan nga kitang tanan we will overcome all the obstacles,” Osmeña said.

Archbishop Jose Palma who celebrated the Mass also thanked the people present.

“Kaninyong tanan, daghan kaayong salamat. Nalipay kita nga daghan kita nagatigom karong panahona,” he said.

Margot prayed shortly before the Mass ended:

“Kablita ang kasing-kasing sa mga niuyon, hupaya ang dughan sa mga naguol. Tagai kami sa kaisog sa pagsupak sa mga dautan. Sa pagbuhat og maayo, ug sa pagsalikway sa mga hiwing pamaagi. Panalipdi kami sa mga bakak sa yawa ug palingkawasa ang among nasod sa gahom sa dautan.” (FREEMAN)