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Leftists raise fists with Duterte inside Malacañang
President Rodrigo Duterte welcomed leaders of militant groups in Malacañang even before he presided his first Cabinet meeting on the day of his inauguration.
Duterte met with the activists at the Palace's Kalayaan Hall after they held a rally at the nearby Mendiola Bridge to express their support for the incoming administration.
The militant groups, who usually picket Mendiola to air their protest against Malacañang's occupants, were escorted to and out the Palace grounds by the Presidential Security Group.
Among those that the new President met were Renato Reyes of the Bagong Alyansang makabayan, Elmer Labog of Kilusang Mayo Uno, Anakpawis Representative Ariel Casilao, Kabataan party-list Representative Sarah Elago, Cristina Palabay of Karapatan, former Gabriela party-list Representative Liza Maza, and Antonio Flores of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas.
Also present were Christian Tuayon, who hails from the Negros region, Windel Bolinget from Cordillera, Diego Torres from Southern Tagalog, and Eufemia, a lumad from the CARAGA region.
Photos posted by the Presidential Broadcast Staff-Radio Television Malacañang showed Duterte raising his fist together with the leaders of the militant groups.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte meets with multi-sectoral groups at the Osmeña Room of the Kalayaan Hall in Malacañang pic.twitter.com/BPGlBpDEfA— RTVMalacanang (@RTVMalacanang) June 30, 2016
In a phone interview with GMA News Online, Reyes said the group submitted the "people's agenda" proposals collated from partners from different regions.
"Sinabi namin na sana mag move forward na yung peace talks at magawan ng paraan yung sa political prisoners. We also talked about kung papaano ipapamahagi yung six million na hectares na public lands and his promise of stopping contractualization and destructive mining." Reyes said.
"He also assured us freedom of assembly. Tinanong namin siya, sir, pwede na kami makalapit [sa Malacañang}? Sabi naman niya. "sure" May warm reception from the President. Iba 'yung atmosphere ngayon." he added.