Edsa 1 not a product of ‘fake news’ but of ‘bloodless revolution’ — Palace

The 1986 Edsa People Power that toppled the Marcos dictatorship was not a product of “fake news” but of a “bloodless” revolution, Malacañang said on Monday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque issued this reaction after his comment was sought following the Facebook poll of Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson asking the public whether the 1986 People Power Revolution was a product of fake news.

“Well, according to the law, it is not fake news. According to the law, we honor the Edsa Revolution having declared it as a public holiday,” Roque said in a Palace briefing.

He said the government has appropriated funds to commemorate the event.

“So we still recognize and we will always recognize Edsa not only as an important historical event, but it was the first bloodless people power revolution in the whole entire planet earth, and it remains significant,” he said.

Duterte had skipped the 32nd Edsa People Power commemoration on Sunday and chose to stay in his hometown Davao City.

This was the second time Duterte skipped the event as President.

Roque said “the declaration of February 25 as a national holiday stays,” despite the absence of Duterte in the event.

“It is a public holiday, and public funds are being spent to commemorate it. So I don’t think there should be any reason to deviate from the fact that by law and by practice, we celebrate Edsa because it was a historical event in our country,” he said.

He said the President has no attempt to diminish the significance of the uprising that toppled the Marcos dictatorship.

“There’s none. It remains in our statute books. As in fact, the ceremonies are being, well, spearheaded by the National Historical Commission no less,” he said. /je