Bishops buck proposal to rename Edsa

MANILA, Philippines—Two Catholic bishops have objected to a proposal in Congress to rename historic Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa) President Cory Aquino Avenue, after the mother of President Aquino.

Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco and retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz said the bill filed by Bohol Rep. Rene Relampagos was unnecessary as Cory and her husband, the martyred former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., had already been given sufficient honors and tributes for being instrumental in the restoration of democracy in the country.

“It is not necessary. We have statues of Cory and Ninoy at the Luneta and other places. The international airport is named after Ninoy,” Ongtioco said.

Ninoy Aquino was gunned down at the Manila International Airport in August 1983, an event that triggered mass protests that culminated in the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution that brought down the Marcos regime.

The Edsa revolution propelled Cory to the presidency.

Cruz suspected that Relampagos might be trying to curry favor with Mr. Aquino.

“What for? What will they rename next? There are so many problems in the country but they busy themselves with renaming streets,” he said.

“Don’t they have anything better to do than to change the name of a street? If somebody says ‘Rename this or that after Cory,’ is it trying to gain favor with the administration?” he added.