Members of the Federation of the Urban Poor ( Fed-Up) in Negros Occidental commemorate the 37th year of his assassination in front a statue of former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. on Araneta Street in Bacolod City. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
BACOLOD CITY –– Wearing face masks and shields, around 50 people gathered in front a statue of former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. on Araneta Street in Bacolod City to commemorate the 37th year of his assassination on Friday.
Members of the Federation of the Urban Poor ( Fed-Up) in Negros Occidental offered flowers and prayers before dispersing.
“We demand the rule of law and we assert our freedom amid this pandemic,” said Joy Jarabelo, Fed-Up provincial coordinator.
“We went out and braved COVID-19 and the Anti-Terror Law with our prayers and flowers offered for our country, as inspired by Ninoy, she added.
Ninoy Aquino Day is a non-working holiday in the Philippines.
Jarabelo said they prayed for the media and press freedom, health care providers, men and women in uniform, the current administration, education sector, the youth, and the entire country.
“We can not afford to allow this country to crumble right before our eyes with the abuses of authority and resources of the government,” she said.
“Corruption, killings, and threats by government leaders are rampant. The top administrator of this country is declaring war against the very people he should serve by threatening them through media closure, the passage of the terror law, killings of activists, and declaring war against the health care providers who sacrificed much in this pandemic,” she added.
“We are losing our treasures, the doctors and health care providers in the pandemic due to the inadequate response of the government to their needs like personal protective equipment, transportation, temporary shelter, and food assistance, among others.”
Jarabelo said Ninoy, considered a hero by many, should serve as an inspiration for every Filipino to fight for what is right.
“We go out today to celebrate Ninoy’s Day as we are inspired by his indomitable spirit. We don’t want to topple this government, but we want to remind and call them to observe the rule of law. We assert our freedom and duty to do the right thing, and do better for our country,” she said.
Ninoy, a political rival of the late dictator and president Ferdinand Marcos, was shot dead by soldiers on the tarmac of the Manila International Airport when he returned from a three-year exile in the US on Aug. 21, 1983.
An investigation concluded that Rolando Galman shot Ninoy. Galman was also killed by soldiers.
Sixteen soldiers were eventually convicted in the Aquino-Galman double murder case. However, the mastermind was never identified.