Enrile on People Power talk: Just do it

HE DID IT Then Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile flashes the opposition “L” sign for “Laban” (fight) during the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution triggered by his breakway from Ferdinand Marcos Sr. —Inquirer file photo

MANILA, Philippines — Take it from this former defense chief who led the uprising against the strongman he had served for so long.

Former Defense Minister and former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, in response to those urging another uprising at the Edsa beltway to topple President Marcos, challenged them on Sunday, saying—Just do it.

Enrile—who, together with then Vice Chief of Staff Fidel Ramos, led the 1986 People Power Revolution against the regime of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.—offered this unsolicited advice on Facebook, after ralliers sympathetic to Vice President Sara Duterte had been gathering at Edsa Shrine since Tuesday.

“My advice to the advocates of revolution or people power is to go ahead to a shop and buy your revolutionary or people power kit, and start the game you like, if you really can do it,” said the man who helped topple Marcos Sr. but who now serves his son as presidential legal counsel.

He said “revolution or people power is no bluffing matter. It is an ultima ratio, where there is no point of return.”

“Ultima ratio” is a Latin phrase that means “the last resort” or “the final argument,” commonly used to describe a decisive action taken only after all other options have failed.

“[Revolution] is a zero-sum game. Either you win or you lose. That’s it,” said the centenarian survivor of adversity in politics.

‘Exploitation of history’

The rector of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace in Quezon City, better known as the iconic Edsa Shrine, again expressed concern about efforts to exploit the poor and the “People Power legacy” to garner support for political gain.

“They once dismissed Edsa as a political tool of the ‘dilawan’ and ‘pink’ groups (those who supported the Aquino family and the 2022 presidential campaign of former Vice President Leni Robredo). But now they are calling the people to unite and gather at Edsa to oust the current government,” Fr. Jerome Secillano said on the “Facts First” podcast.

The priest also maintained that contrary to the claim of the protesters, they were not being turned away to hold their program at the church property.

But Secillano said he rejected the group’s plan to hold their program at the façade of Edsa Shrine at the corner of Edsa and Ortigas Avenue.

“They also plan to build a platform to hold their program, which will block the view of the shrine. I did not allow it, because it is already an exploitation of history. I need to protect the interest of the church,” he said.

DDS, vloggers

As of Sunday morning, Philippine National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said no untoward incidents were reported since the so-called DDS or “Diehard Duterte Supporters” started gathering at Edsa Shrine on Tuesday.

Six days since, these supporters are down to around 20, Fajardo said, adding that some 200 officers remain deployed there to keep the peace.

According to Secillano, the ralliers at Edsa were mostly vloggers who wanted to post online content for their followers.

The Edsa Shrine was established in December 1989 as a dedication to Mary, Queen of Peace who is believed to have played a part in the largely peaceful People Power Revolution of 1986 that toppled the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos Sr., father of President Marcos.