A truck bearing the casket of former President Corazon Aquino passes through a crowd of supporters during her funeral procession on Aug. 5, 2009, four days after her death. More than 100,000 mourners braved heavy rain to honor the former President, heroine of the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution. (File photo from Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — Cory Aquino was popular not only because she lost husband, former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy”Aquino Jr., but because she played a critical role in restoring democracy in the country after years of authoritarian rule under then President Ferdinand Marcos.
Vice President Leni Robredo underscored this point on Sunday during her weekly “BISErbisyong LENI” radio program, which airs over AM station DZXL.
It was in response to a comment that President Rodrigo Duterte made on Saturday — that Cory Aquino was famous only because she lost her husband “in the hands Mr. Marcos.”
READ: President: Cory popular for losing Ninoy ‘in hands of Marcos’
“Alam natin na iyong pinagdaanan niya hindi basta-basta. Hindi lang sa nawala iyong asawa, pero bago nawala iyong asawa, kung ano-anong panggigipit iyong napagdaanan noong panahon ng rehimeng Marcos. Noong nakaupo na bilang Presidente, alam nating sunod-sunod na kudeta iyong nalampasan,” Robredo said.
[We know that what she went through was not easy. Not only did she lose her husband, but before that, she went through so much harassment during the Marcos regime. When she became President, we know that she went through several coup attempts.]
Ninoy Aquino was assassinated on Aug. 21, 1983, sparking widespread outrage at the Marcos regime. On Feb. 7, 1986, a snap election, which Marcos himself set, was held, with Cory Aquino running against the strongman. But the election was marred by claims of mass cheating, leading to the People Power revolt on EDSA, which led to the end of the 21-year rule of Marcos.
“Pero maaalala kasi iyong kaniyang administrasyon, iyon iyong turning point ng pag-regain natin ng ating demokrasya, ng ating mga democratic institutions. Kaya napakalaki ng kontribusyon para sa ating bansa,” she added.
[Her administration will be remembered for being the turning point at which we regained our democracy, our democratic institutions. That’s a big contribution to our country.]
Robredo said that instead of digging up how Aquino rose to fame in politics, the public should remember how she used her power as President, the first Filipoino woman to hold the post, from 1986 to 1992.
“Iyong pinakatanong: Noong nabigyan ng pagkakataon, paano ginamit iyong kapangyarihan na binigay sa kaniya? Alam nating lahat na siya din iyong halimbawa na hindi talaga nag-abuso sa kapangyarihan na binigay,” she said.
[The question is: When she was given the opportunity, how did she use the power that she was given? We also know that she’s an example of someone who did not abuse the power that she was given.]
“Parating tinatawaran, lalo na ng mga supporters ng dating diktador, iyong kakayahan [niya]. Wala namang presidenteng perpekto. Pero siguro kung may isang puwedeng maipagmalaki na hindi nang-abuso, hindi naging kurakot, [siya iyon],” she added.
[Her abilities had always been belittled, especially by the supporters of the former dictator. No president is perfect. But if there’s one we can be proud of for not being abusive, for not being corrupt, it’s her.]
Last Thursday, Aug. 1, the country commemorated the 10th death anniversary of Aquino.
Among those who attended the Holy Mass for her were her children — former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and daughters Ballsy, Pinky, and Viel, as well as her grandchildren.
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