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September 22, 2017

Philippines: Mass Protests Oppose President Duterte's Authoritarianism
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In the Philippines, tens of thousands of protesters rallied in cities
across the country Thursday, warning that President Rodrigo Duterte was
on the brink of imposing a dictatorship. The mass protests came on the
45th anniversary of nationwide military rule imposed by former dictator
Ferdinand Marcos. Organizers pledged that future anti-Duterte rallies
will be even bigger.

Vencer Crisostomo: "This is the biggest rally so far of the youth and
people, and the rallies are bound to get bigger. And the Duterte
government is bound to get more isolated and more exposed amongst the
people, and soon will be ousted."

Duterte has already declared martial law over the Philippines' Mindanao
region, and he's threatened to expand a bloody so-called war on drugs
that's seen police and vigilantes kill at least 12,500 people since
Duterte took office last year.