Protesters burn Marcos, Sara effigies

Despite the appeal of the Philippine National Police (PNP) not to burn effigies during President Marcos' fourth State of the Nation Address, SONA protesters set on fire images of the Chief Executive and Vice President Sara Duterte yesterday.

- By EMMANUEL TUPAS and MARK ERNEST VILLEZA

Members of cause-oriented groups braved the rain to stage protest actions along Commonwealth Avenue.

At least 800 members of Bayan Southern Tagalog converged at around 7:30 a.m. near Philcoa, holding placards and banners criticizing the administration.

The group burned effigies of Marcos and Duterte, which were quickly extinguished by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III said there is no decision yet if criminal complaints would be filed against activists who burned effigies.

Even before the groups' demonstration at around 3 p.m., activists started burning makeshift dummies.

There was a slight tension when BFP personnel doused a burning effigy in front of protesters.

Other groups such as Agham and Kalikasan held a protest near Tandang Sora.

The protest took the form of a mock newscast likening President Marcos to a storm, which they said also served as a tribute to journalists.

Supporters of Marcos also gathered near the Batasang Pambansa complex.