President Benigno Aquino III on Independence Day gave a strongly-worded speech, possibly his last as head of state, against dictatorship and the demise of democracy.
Aquino, addressing hundreds of diplomats and government officials, warned that freedom may again be stolen from the people.
Independence Day (June 12) commemorates the Philippines’ declaration of independence from Spain but Aquino took the opportunity to talk about martial law.
“Nangyari na ito. Minsan nang inagaw ng kapwa natin Pilipino ang ating kalayaan. Ibig sabihin, kung hindi tayo magiging mapagmatyag, maaari uli itong mangyari,” he said after showing a video that narrating the experience of his familly during the Marcos regime.
(This happened before. Our freedom was once stolen by our fellow Filipinos. This means that if we are not vigilant, it may happen again.)
Aquino did not refer to president-elect Rodrigo Duterte but he has earlier warned of the return of dictatorship and the threat to democracy while hinting at the incoming administration.
READ: Aquino fears return of another dictatorship
Duterte, who once called himself a “dictator,” said that he was in favor of burying the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani, despite opposition by anti-martial law groups.
READ: Duterte favors burying Marcos at heroes’ cemetery
Duterte also cited his friendship with Marcos’ son, Senator Bongbong Marcos, for not giving vice president-elect Leni Robredo a Cabinet position. The vice presidential race was a close fight before Robredo was eventually proclaimed winner by Congress.
READ: Duterte: Yes, I’m a dictator. So what?
“Ngayong papasok tayo sa panibagong kabanata ng ating kasaysayan, nawa’y hindi natin malimot: Ang kalayaan, kailangang bantayan at alagaan. Ang lahat ng mahalaga, kailangang pagsikapan; kailangang ipaglaban,” Aquino said during the Vin d’ Honneur.
(Now that we are entering a new chapter in our history, let us not forget: Our freedom should be guarded and protected. Everything that is important should be endeavored; should be fought for.)
He also quoted the writer Edmund Burke who said, “All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
Aquino said the Filipino people has been able to show that it could fight for democracy and restore it.
“Naabot natin ang lahat ng tinatamasa natin ngayon nang gumagalang sa proseso at sa batas at sa karapatan ng bawat tao. Nagawa natin ito nang hindi sinisikil ang tinig nino man, at binibigyang halaga ang kalayaang ipinaglaban ng mga nauna sa atin,” he said.
(We have achieved all that we are enjoying now by respecting the law and the human rights of every person. We were able to do this without oppressing anyone and by giving importance to the freedom fought for by those before us.)
Duterte has long been criticized by human rights groups, initially because of his links to the infamous Davao Death Squad and now his endorsement of execution of criminals by police and the public.
READ: Duterte to rights groups: You are all hypocrites
“Naninindigan pa rin tayo: Walang mararating na tunay na pag-unlad kung isusuko ang ating dignidad at karapatan,” Aquino said.
(We continue to stand firm: We won’t achieve real progress if we surrender our dignity and rights.)
In his toast to the diplomatic corps, the President said, “To our hard won Filipino freedom: Earned by the blood and sacrifice of martyrs, nurtured by the vigilance of an empowered people, may it never again be challenged, diminished, or negated.”
President Benigno Aquino III makes a last pitch against the return of a dictatorship in the country by relating how his family suffered during the Martial Law regime. KRISTINE ANGELI SABILLO / INQUIRER.NET