CEBU CITY — Some 5,000 community leaders in Cebu and neighboring provinces on Saturday, Oct. 1, took their oaths as volunteer members of a people’s movement supporting President Rodrigo Duterte in what they call “Lihok Suporta.”
They took their oath before Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr. as volunteer members of the ‘Kilusang Pagbabago’ at the Cebu Coliseum on Sanciangko St., Cebu City.
Kilusang Pagbabago is a people’s movement that supports the changes under the Duterte administration and ensures that the government’s pro-people programs reach the grassroots.
Liza Maza, the national chairperson of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), joined Evasco during the ‘Lihok Suporta.’
Evasco, who oversees 12 national government agencies by virtue of the first executive order issued by Duterte as president, and Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña also graced the opening of the Kilusang Pagbabago office at the North Reclamation Area in Cebu City.
Evasco, who was the national campaign manager of the Duterte presidential campaign, first discussed the outlines of Kilusang Pagbabago in Cebu during a meeting with campaign leaders at the People’s Thanksgiving at SRP on June 25, 2016.
With the theme “Lihok Suporta: Suportahan si Presidente Duterte; Isulong ang tinuod nga kausaban”, the Kilusang Pagbabago launch gathered community leaders and member volunteers coming not only from Cebu but all the way from other regions in the Visayas.
The Kilusang Pagbabago is expected to help push the Duterte government’s platform for change and poverty alleviation, an independent foreign policy, and the shift to a federal system of government.
Doris Isubal-Mongaya of Kilusang Pagbabago Visayas said the people’s movement would serve as Duterte’s partner for change by serving as a watchdog that fought corruption and ensured that government did not stray from a pro-people agenda.
“Kilusang Pagbabago will also be an educator that raises awareness on Duterte’s change agenda and reforms and a defender of the republic ready to help during calamities and against criminality and threats of destabilization,” said Mongaya.
She said the movement should work with the administration in the fight against crime, drugs, and corruption through monitoring, documentation, reporting, and advocacy campaigns and ensure effective delivery of government services to intended communities.
Evasco, a former rebel-priest, was the chief of staff of then Davao City Mayor Duterte and later national campaign manager for the 2016 presidential elections.
He also served as mayor of Maribojoc, Bohol. PNA – northboundasia.com