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BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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Saturday, February 25, 2017
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MANILA – “The EDSA People Power Revolution belongs to the people and it’s up to the people.”
Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV urged the public to celebrate the 31st EDSA anniversary “in their own way.”
In 1986, Filipinos marched the street of EDSA (Epifanio de los Santos Avenue) to oppose the dictatorship of then president Ferdinand Marcos, whose government was marred by human rights violations and violence.
They should keep the spirit of EDSA alive, said Bam, the nephew of democracy icon former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.
“Ang celebration ng People Power ay nasa taumbayan. Hindi iyan pagmamay-ari ng isang tao o isang pamilya… Maraming iba’t-ibang mga [paraan] kung paano maaaring ipagdiwang ng taumbayan ang okasyon,” the 39-year-old lawmaker said.
Meanwhile Bam said he respects the decision of the government to hold a “simple” and “quiet” 31st EDSA anniversary inside the Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters at Camp Aquinaldo in Quezon City on Feb. 23.
It is entirely the administration’s “prerogative,” he said.
“I think government doing that move it’s probably the best move for them at this point, considering that President Duterte is also not attending.”
Deputy executive secretary for legal affairs Menardo Guevarra earlier said during a press conference in Malacañang recently that this year’s rites, with a budget of only P1 million, will be low-key and focus on reflection.
“That is precisely the reason why there is no pomp in this year’s anniversary celebration. It’s a time to settle down, quiet a bit, and think of what has happened over the past 30 years,” Guevarra explained.
Bam said the democratic progress in the Philippines remains crippled because of corruption.
“We’re fighting for democracy. We’re fighting for people to be able to speak up. Before, they were fighting for press freedom. Now, it’s freedom online — to be able to say what you want to say without being trolled,” he said./PN
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