MANILA - A massive protest against tyranny and the recent spate of killings will push through on September 21, whether or not President Rodrigo Duterte declares this date as a holiday, a protest leader said Tuesday.

Duterte has declared September 21, the 45th anniversary of the declaration of the Marcos-era martial law, as a "national day of protest." Malacañang said it is set to issue a written order on the possible suspension of classes on Thursday.

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Sr. Mary John Mananzan, convenor of the Movement Against Tyranny, urged the public to take advantage of the possible holiday to join the mass action at Luneta park in Manila.

"Ang panawagan ko sa mga estudyante, mga nagtatrabaho -- e di mabuti [kung holiday], pumunta kayo [sa protesta]. You will not lose a day, iyung salary niyo sa araw na iyun, you will not be absent," Mananzan told DZMM.

"Ang panawagan po namin is stop all EJKs, itong mga killings na ito. We would also like to protest against these tendencies toward authoritarianism, tyranny, one-man rule, whatever you want to call it because we feel that our democratic space is getting narrower," she added.

Mananzan said a 2 p.m. Mass at San Agustin Church will precede the 4 p.m. Luneta protest.

Participants are encouraged to bring bells that they could ring in time to the tolling of all church bells in Metro Manila at 8 p.m. Thursday, in remembrance of the victims of the Marawi City siege and the government's war on drugs.

DZMM, 19 September 2017