Gov't officials call on public to support Duterte, join prayer vigil in Luneta on Feb. 25-26

Published February 22, 2017 11:08am

By AMITA LEGASPI, GMA News

Officials of different government agencies on Wednesday urged the public to join the gathering and prayer vigil on February 25 to 26 in support of President Rodrigo Duterte's war against illegal drugs, corruption, and poverty.

Interior Undersecretary John Castriciones said the gathering does not involve politics but is purely an expression of support.

"In no way that we are trying to treat this activity with political color. This is just to support President Duterte," Castriciones said in a press conference at Club Filipino in San Juan City.

"There is no political color that should be involved because it is not against anyone but against the evils of society," he added.

Castriciones said the gathering will be a prayer vigil because they want to implore the grace of God.

He added that people from different provinces will troop to the Quirino Grandstand to show that people in other parts of the country also support the President.

"These people joining us will come from different places. We would like to create impression that not only the people from Manila could effect change," he said.

Interior Assistant Secretary Epimaco Demsing said other provinces such as Davao, Bacolod, and other countries like Hong Kong, Canada, and Dubai have also organized similar events.

Ambassador Bien Tejano said now is the chance for the people to express their support.

"Parang si President lang ang nagngangangawa kaya ito na ang chance ng masa na ipakita ang kanilang suporta," he said.

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority deputy director general Alvin Feliciano said the public should show support because it is the Duterte administration that has the political will to effect change in the country.

The press conference is ongoing as of posting time. —KG, GMA News

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