Leftist groups welcome Duterte to office with Manila rally

Hundreds of people from various leftleaning militant and sectoral groups marched through the streets of Manila on Thursday to celebrate the end of former president Benigno Aquino III’s administration and welcome Rodrigo Duterte to office.

Groups including youth, indigenous peoples, health, labor and transport representatives waved banners and flags as they rallied in support of Duterte and voiced hopes that he would address their concerns, an epa journalist at the scene reports.

Among the demands made by protesters today were calls for education and health reforms, and for the release of political prisoners.

Robert Mendoza of the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) was among those who joined the event.

“This is not a protest rally but an inauguration rally to show we’re united with our new president,” he told Rappler news site.

Addressing the crowd, Renato Reyes, secretarygeneral of militant organizations alliance Bayan, called on participants to cooperate with the new leader.

“We are going to support the progressives and the nationalist policies of the new administration. We are going to say what we think is needed for new reforms. We are going to fight against those who will resist change,” he said.

Duterte was sworn into office on Thursday morning after achieving a landslide victory in the country’s May 9 national elections.