Duterte to Filipinos: Honor Ninoy’s legacy by ‘sacrificing personal interests’

Former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.

MANILA, Philippines — On Ninoy Aquino Day, President Rodrigo Duterte urged Filipinos to honor the late senator’s legacy by showing “capacity to sacrifice personal interests for common good.”

“I join the Filipino people in commemorating the Ninoy Aquino Day,” the President said in his message.

Duterte said the commemoration, which marks the “ultimate sacrifice” of Aquino, is “truly timely,” not only because the country is battling a pandemic but also because of the recent death of his son, former President Benigno Aquino III. The younger Aquino, who died on June 24, is Duterte’s predecessor.

“As Filipinos, let us honor his legacy by showing our capacity to sacrifice our personal interests for the common good. May this sacrifice inspire all of us to be resilient and undaunted by challenges, especially now that we are still dealing with COVID-19,” Duterte said.

“Let us all draw strength from Ninoy’s selflessness and let us take the lessons from our storied and colorful past so that we may truly value, learn, and appreciate who we are today as a nation,” he added.

Ninoy Aquino Day is commemorated every August 21 by virtue of Republic Act No. 9256 signed on February 25, 2004.

The special non-working holiday is observed to commemorate the death anniversary of Aquino, a staunch critic of the Marcos dictatorship. On August 21, 1983, he returned to Manila after three years in exile but was assassinated at the Manila International Airport.

/MUF