Pangilinan: Resist historical revisionism, remember Cory’s fight vs martial rule
MANILA, Philippines – An opposition senator urged Filipinos to resist attempts to revise the country’s history and remember how the late former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino led he struggle against martial rule.
Senator Francis Pangilinan said Filipinos should not forget how Cory Aquino led the fight that unseated the late former President Ferdinand Marcos after more than two decades in power.
“We should never forget the many, many injustices we faced during martial law,” he said in a statement on Thursday.
“She symbolizes the people’s triumph in the hard-fought struggle against the dictatorship. It’s a lesson that should never be forgotten, especially now,” Pangilinan said.
Cory Aquino, widow of slain Marcos critic and former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., was one of the important figures of the martial law period. She died in August 1, 2009 from cardiac arrest, as a result of colon cancer.
According to Pangilinan, “enemies of freedom” are now using digital media and technology in an attempt to revise history and “spread the propaganda erasing this triumph of democracy.”
“Won our freedom in Edsa. We must protect our freedom and our history against revisionism,” he explained.
READ: Historical revisionism
READ: CHR hits Enrile’s ‘attempt at historical revisionism’
In a separate statement, Senator Leila de Lima also heaped praises on the late President Corazon Aquino for uniting the nation which eventually led to Marcos stepping down from office.
“Her legacy continues and remains not only in the hearts of Filipinos, but also in the millions of people around the world whose lives were touched by her fortitude, humility, dignity and heroism,” De Lima said.
“Sa kabila ng pananakot at panggigipit ng mapaniil na rehimen, tinanggap niya ang hamon na mamuno para makabangon ang bansa mula sa diktadurya,” she added
Both senators said Filipinos should emulate Cory’s traits.
“(President Cory inspired people) to overcome their fear, to fight tyranny and restore our democracy’ through the bloodless and peaceful 1986 Edsa Revolution that ended Marcos’ 21-year reign,” De Lima said.
“In times of turmoil, the ones who truly love the country are those who stand by their conviction for what is right and true, and those who inspire their fellow humans to be brave for truth. That is President Cory,” Pangilinan noted.
Pangilinan recalled his days as a student activist during the martial law period, he was a student activist who was awakened about the country’s situation with the assassination of Ninoy Aquino.
De Lima on the other hand relates herself to Ninoy and Cory, for being jailed for to her political convictions. She is currently held up at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame for drug-related charges when she was still the Justice secretary. /muf
