‘Best tribute to Ninoy is support for war on drugs’

TARMAC RITES Former Sen. Heherson Alvarez, one of the leaders of the opposition to the Marcos dictatorship, and members of the August Twenty-One Movement commemorate the 33rd death anniversary of former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. with a floral offering and a Mass at Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminal 1. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

THE MARTYRDOM of Benigno Aquino Jr. 33 years ago on Sunday was remembered with a floral offering, a serenade of his favorite song “Impossible Dream” and a call for Filipinos to support President Duterte’s war on drugs and corruption as the “best way” to pay tribute to the late opposition leader.

Ninoy Aquino Movement (NAM) founding chair Heherson Alvarez drew a parallel between the late Aquino’s “sense of high-mindedness and selfless patriotism” and Mr. Duterte’s determination to root out illegal drugs and large-scale corruption in the country.

A known anti-Marcos freedom fighter during the martial law years, Alvarez said Aquino’s love of country was the same that now empowered the “sagacious spirit” of the new President.

“Perhaps, we can best pay tribute to Ninoy by supporting this initiative as a beacon for change,” he said in a speech during the observance of Ninoy Aquino Day at Terminal 1 of the international airport that has been named after the martyred opposition leader.

The NAM holds a yearly commemoration of Aquino’s assassination near the site where he was shot dead on his return on Aug. 21, 1983, from three years of self-exile in the United States.

Following Aquino’s death, which paved the way for the return of democracy to the Philippines, NAM was organized by opposition members who were also exiled overseas but continued to resist the martial law regime.

Awardees

For this year’s commemoration, a wreath-laying ceremony was held at a granite marker at the departure area of Ninoy Aquino International Airport, followed by a Mass for Aquino near the spot where he was gunned down and the awarding of the Ninoy Aquino Medal of Valor to key figures who helped restore democracy in the country.

Flowers were also laid on the metal marker where Aquino fell on the tarmac.

The awardees for this year were former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr., the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines and Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation.

“We honor these men and institutions who distinctly and courageously fought for the freedom of the Filipino people, and strengthen that long struggle for Philippine democracy,” Alvarez said.

Performances

Pimentel was not present at the awarding. His wife, Bing, accepted the medal on his behalf.

Former Sen. Joey Lina sang the “Impossible Dream,” while the Lakbay Himig Choir, composed of musicians with disabilities, sang patriotic songs like “Bayan Ko,” “Magkaisa” and “Tie a Yellow Ribbon.”

Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, representing the Earthsavers Unesco Dream Center, read “Burning the Candle of My Life,” a poem written by Aquino.

Martyrdom

A former senator, Alvarez noted that this year’s observance of the martyrdom of Aquino was more significant as it was a first under the new administration.

“The burdens of the presidency to move our nation forward remain formidable and challenging and any President will always have his share of critics. However, we must be united to advance our common vision—the vision of a free people working to strengthen the abiding principles of tolerance, social justice and inclusive growth with adherence to human rights,” he said.

“Akin to Ninoy’s statement that ‘the Filipino is worth dying for,’ President Duterte has put his life on the line through his crusade of preventing our country [from] becoming a [narcostate], thus safeguarding the future of our youth,” he said.

Crackdown on drugs

Mr. Duterte’s crackdown on illegal drugs has driven hundreds of thousands of users and pushers to surrender to authorities and at the same time spawned extrajudicial killings, which human rights advocates and critics said brought back memories of abuses under martial law.

When asked how he would reconcile this with his call for support to Mr. Duterte’s initiatives as tribute to Aquino, who fought the atrocities of martial law, Alvarez replied: “There will be a lot of accusations thrown at you if you are doing something big.”

“But he (Mr. Duterte) also said this should be investigated but he would not back down from his fight against illegal drugs,” he said.

NAM’s yearly observance of Aquino’s martyrdom was held in collaboration with airport authorities, the August 21 Movement, Spirit of Edsa Foundation, Chino Roces Foundation and the Philippine ITI-Earthsavers Unesco Dream Center.