Pro-Duterte and pro-Marcos supporters gathered in front of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday afternoon and held a protest action in the face — literally — of some Kabataan partylist members as they presented their official candidates for the 2019 elections.

One protester was seen shouting the name of President Rodrigo Duterte as a student leader from the Kabataan partylist welcomed their contingency, which included incumbent Representative Sarah Elago.

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According to the pro-Duterte rallyists, chants of the student-activists on the abolition of the K to 12 program are unfounded since it was former President Benigno Aquino who initiated the project.

Some of those allied with the administration even called for the abolition of state colleges where most of the Kabataan members are enrolled in.

“Pinag-aaral kayo ng gobyerno tapos ganyan igaganti niyo? Tignan natin kung saan pupulutin ang mga ‘yan kapag nagka-giyera,” one of the pro-Duterte protesters said.

Members of the Manila Police District were quickly dispatched to secure the area to prevent commotion to aggravate. There were around 20 pro-Duterte protesters while Kabataan members were numbered about 50.

Earlier, supporters of senatorial candidate and former Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa and members of Gabriela Women’s Partylist came face to face and got themselves into a shouting match. Dela Rosa, who filed his certificate of candidacy, is running under the ruling PDP-Laban party while Gabriela and Kabataan are members of the minority’s Makabayan bloc.

Recent pronouncements from top military officials have exposed the alleged “fronts” of communist rebels, who were tagged of turning at least 18 universities around Metro Manila and other key provinces into recruitment grounds.

However, the Makabayan bloc have filed a resolution asking the House Committee on Human Rights to investigate the “red-tagging,” saying that it endangers the life of students merely critical of the government. /jpv

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