‘People Power to erupt if SC stops impeach trial’

A FORMER human rights lawyer said another People Power revolt may erupt in the aftermath of the Senate impeachment trial.

Democrito Barcenas believed people will once again converge on the streets if the Supreme Court (SC) stops the impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Renato Corona.

“I don’t think people will not rise (if a temporary restraining order will be issued to stop the impeachment). A small spark can create a conflagration,” Barcenas said in an interview.

Barcenas is hoping Filipinos would continue the campaign to eliminate corruption as the country celebrates the 26th anniversary of the first Edsa People Power revolt.

“I’m not fully satisfied. The goals that we pursued are still ongoing. The fight against corruption is ongoing,” he said.

Barcenas, who was among the activist lawyers jailed in Cebu during martial law, said the charges filed against former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the impeachment trial proved that the war against corruption remains.

He told Cebu Daily News that the spirit of the People Power Revolution in 1986 is alive and well.

“You can’t expect People Power every day. It is enough that people are having participatory democracy. People are becoming more involved,” Barcenas said.

Barcenas, who now sits as one of the directors of the Philippine National Oil Corp., admitted that the dream to improve the lives of Filipinos hasn’t been fulfilled even with two People Power Revolutions.

Barcenas said unity among the people is needed to fight the twin evils of the society.

For four days ending on Feb. 25, 1986, Filipinos trooped at the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa) in Manila and faced armies with food, flowers, and rosaries.

Their defiance eventually led to Marcos stepping down from the Palace and flying  to Hawaii.

The late senator Benigno Aquino Jr.’s widow Corazon “Cory” Aquino assumed as president. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol