8:00AM – 4:30PM, 12 June, 2017 Araw ng Kalayaan
UP School of Economics, UP Diliman
On May 23, President Duterte declared martial law and suspended the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the whole of Mindanao. The president had been repeatedly indicating in his speeches his intent that he can and will declare martial law as part of his war on drugs. His Mindanao martial law, triggered by the conflict in Marawi, was not warranted according to a many sectors reportedly including the armed forces and the secretary of national defense. The continuation of martial law in Mindanao and the specter of its nationwide implementation pose a direct threat to democracy in the Philippines.
It is in this context that a gathering of freedom-loving citizens is being organized. An informal consortium of academic institutions, think tanks, development CSOs, faith-based organizations, advocacy networks, and a student alliance are gathering as broad a representation of leaders to proactively discuss and discern on the current state of Philippine democracy and to identify strategies and courses of action to defend, protect and uphold democratic norms and freedoms. Workshop Program and Lead Discussants
8:00 – 8:30 Registration
8:30 – 9:00 Opening Plenary: Context and Objectives of the Gathering
9:00 – 10:00 Parallel Sub Plenary Sessions
Sub Plenary 1: Upholding National Security
Jay Batongbacal
Vergel Santos
Sub Plenary 2: Upholding Human Rights and Social Justice
Florin Hilbay*
Raissa Jajurie*
Sub Plenary 3: Upholding Democratic Institutions
Christian Monsod*
Rene Saguisag*
Sub Plenary 4: Upholding Truth
Ramon Jimenez, Jr.
Maria Ressa
10:00 – 12:30 Discussion and Discernment Workshops
Workshop 1 and 2: Upholding National Security
Workshop 3 and 4: Upholding Human Rights and Social Justice
Workshop 5 and 6: Upholding Democratic Institutions
* To be confirmed
The invited audience will be composed of around 200 leaders and representatives from academe,
civic and civil society organizations, business and business foundations, media and media
associations, student groups, faith-based organizations, icons of culture and the arts, civil
libertarians, and political parties. The convenors hope that in bringing these representatives
together, a common understanding of, and discussions about what is happening and what we can
collectively do now and the immediate future will emerge.
Isang Pagtitipon at Paninindigan Para sa Demokrasya is part of a continuing Defend Democracy Series of forums of the broadest possible inclusion to push-back against unchecked power and to uphold Philippine democracy.
Initial convenors:
Ateneo de Manila University
Caucus of Development NGO Networks
De La Salle University
Institute for Leadership, Empowerment and Democracy
International Center for Innovation, Transformation and Excellence in Governance
Kaya Natin! Movement
Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO Networks
Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka
Peoples Alternative Study Center for Research and Education in Social Development
Sandigan para sa Mag-aaral at Sambayanan Alumni
Student Council Alliance of the Philippines
The Coordinating Group
University of the Philippines Diliman, Office of the Chancellor
“A nation is formed by the willingness of each of us to share in the responsibility for upholding the common good.” –
Barbara Jordan, civil rights movement leader
