Marcos, VP Duterte issue no message for Ninoy Aquino Day

MANILA, Philippines — Both President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte did not issue any messages for the 41st death anniversary of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.

August 21 of every year is officially proclaimed as Ninoy Aquino Day to commemorate the death anniversary of the late senator—who was assassinated on his return to the Philippines in 1983.

His death sparked the Edsa People Power Revolution in 1986 that led to the ouster of Marcos’ father, former President and dictator, Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

READ: Remembering Benigno Aquino Jr.

Traditionally a non-working holiday, Marcos Jr., through Proclamation No. 665, moved the commemoration of Ninoy Aquino Day to Friday, August 23 in favor of a long weekend as the National Heroes’ Day (another non-working holiday) will also be celebrated on Monday, August 26.

READ: Marcos moving ‘Ninoy Day’ violates 2007 law – Lagman

While he has yet to issue a statement for this year’s Ninoy Aquino Day, Marcos previously commemorated Aquino’s death anniversary in 2023, where he called on Filipinos to “transcend political barriers.”

He recognized Aquino for standing for his beliefs “he deemed right” and tagged him as an example of “relentlessness and resolve” to Filipinos.

In the meantime, INQUIRER.net has yet to confirm if Marcos opted to delay issuing a statement commemorating Ninoy Aquino to Friday, the date he moved the official holiday to.

Vice President Sara Duterte, on the other hand, has never released a statement commemorating Aquino’s death since being elected Vice President in 2023.

Likewise, INQUIRER.net has also yet to confirm if Duterte will release a statement, remembering Aquino, on Friday.