PRAISE FROM DUTERTE A wreath from President Duterte stands at the foot of a statue of the late Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. on Quezon Avenue in Quezon City on Tuesday as the nation commemorates the 35th death anniversary of the opposition leader who fought the Marcos dictatorship. Mr. Duterte said the country needed more citizens with the courage, patriotism and self-sacrifice of Aquino. —GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
President Duterte on Tuesday said the Philippines needed more citizens with the courage, patriotism and self-sacrifice of the late Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. whose death by an assassin’s bullet 35 years ago “gave birth to the freedoms we enjoy today.”
A fierce critic of dictator Ferdinand Marcos and potential rival of the then ailing strongman, Aquino returned to the country from his self-exile in the United States to lead the opposition but was assassinated moments after he stepped out of the plane that flew him home on Aug. 21, 1983.
His murder ignited widespread and massive protests that culminated in the Edsa People Power Revolution in 1986 following the snap presidential election called by Marcos that swept his widow, Corazon Aquino, to the presidency.
A fact-finding commission created by Marcos found a military conspiracy behind the assassination and that Aquino’s alleged assassin, Rolando Galman, was just a fall guy. The Sandiganbayan later convicted 16 soldiers, including a general, for the murder of Aquino and Galman.
“In this time of real and lasting change, we need more citizens like him so we can steer our country toward the direction where a brighter and better future awaits us all,” Mr. Duterte said in his message on Ninoy Aquino Day.
“His profound love of country has inspired a revolution that altered the course of our nation’s history and gave birth to the freedoms we enjoy today,” he said.
Guidepost for leaders
The President called on Filipinos to “reflect on (Aquino’s) sacrifice as we honor the courage and patriotism that Ninoy demonstrated during his struggle.”
“May his dedication to his cause serve as a guidepost for our current leaders in government as they advance the welfare of our people, especially the oppressed and marginalized,” he said.
Mr. Duterte was praising Aquino against the backdrop of his decision to bury Marcos’ remains at Libingan ng mga Bayani which he said was legal and a campaign promise he made to the dictator’s family. He also said he would step down if the dictator’s son and namesake were to take his place.
Aquino’s son and Mr. Duterte’s predecessor, Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, said he was sad that Filipinos were still struggling for democracy 35 years after his father’s assassination.
Manila Memorial Park
In his remarks during rites to commemorate his father’s death at Manila Memorial Park, the former President urged Filipinos to also wake up as they did after his father was killed.
“Let’s remove the thinking of ‘Bahala na si Pedro, si Juan,’ or whoever else,” Aquino said. “We have to take responsibility for our future.”
If each citizen did his part, “we will get closer and closer to where we want to be,” he said.
The country’s situation when Aquino made one of his most famous statements—“The Filipino is worth dying for”—“was not much different from today,” according to his nephew, opposition Sen. Bam Aquino.
The senator said many Filipinos had been asking him if they should continue the fight against authoritarian rule.
“Many of them are disillusioned and despondent with the state of our nation and the seeming lack of courage from the public and from public officials. Where is the anger at the thousands of deaths and the everyday violence in our streets? Where are the leaders of the country who vowed to speak for the poor, but are now so silent and even complicit to the worsening situation of our people?” he said.
De Lima statement
Sen. Leila de Lima, who was jailed by the Duterte administration on alleged drug charges, said Mr. Duterte was “a dictator leading the country and promoting violence and killings, disrespecting the Constitution.”
“And like the previous dictator, (Mr.) Duterte only wants to pass on his power to his allies who will not hold him accountable to the law, and to those who refuse to admit their families’ sins in order to return to power,” she said in a statement.
“As the ones who inherited the democracy that Ninoy and millions of Filipinos fought for, let us continue to stand tall, link arms and unite our voices to fight for truth and justice in our country,” she added.
Sen. Joel Villanueva said Aquino was “the country’s greatest modern hero” and his death should remind Filipinos that the freedoms they enjoyed were won “through the lives and deaths of those who ended the oppressive reigns of martial law.”
The struggle for the right to life and due process, improved lives, to hold government accountable, and for a safe and healthy environment that Aquino paid for with his life continues, said Sen. Francis Pangilinan, president of the Liberal Party.
“Now it is upon us, the people, especially today’s youth whose future is at stake, to bring about the change that Ninoy paid for with his life,” Pangilinan said.
Remembered in Cebu City
Aquino’s assassination also was remembered by youth activists in Cebu City, where members of Akbayan Youth tied yellow ribbons inside Fuente Osmeña Circle.
“I am still allowed to tie this ribbon and nobody is stopping me from doing such. This is democracy and we are celebrating it right now,” said Akbayan Youth’s Bon Luzon.
In Negros Occidental, at least 150 people held a prayer and offered flowers at Ninoy Aquino’s Monument near the old Bacolod airport to “give honor, respect and unending gratitude to Ninoy Aquino who had given his life to restore freedom and democracy in our country then,” according to Joy Jarabelo, provincial coordinator for the Federation of Urban Poor. —REPORTS FROM JULIE M. AURELIO, LEILA B. SALAVERRIA, MATTHEW REYSIO-CRUZ, ROSALIE O. ABATAYO AND CARLA P. GOMEZ