Reflect on Ninoy’s life, words, says Duterte

PRESIDENT Duterte yesterday called on citizens to reflect on the late former senator Benigno Aquino Jr.’s life and on his famous words “the Filipino is worth dying for.”

Duterte’s message was released by Malacañang as the nation commemorated Aquino’s 34th death anniversary.

Duterte lauded Aquino’s contribution to the country, and attributed to him the 1986 Edsa revolution that ended the Marcos dictatorship.

“History is witness to how Ninoy’s work as a journalist and a politician drove him to effect positive and meaningful changes in our society. Throughout his career, he fought for what is right and just. Up until the very end of his life, he inspired a peaceful revolution that resulted into the liberties we enjoy today,” reads part of Duterte’s message.

“Even at a time when hope was lost, he remained steadfast in his struggle to restore democracy through non-violent means. His deeds have taught us that we should always aspire for the common good — even if one must go against the grain — and do what is necessary.”

Duterte said he wished that the commemoration of Aquino’s death anniversary would “continue to strengthen his legacy of promoting solidarity and patriotism among our people especially in these troubling times.”

Meanwhile, the mayor and a former mayor of this city called on Cagayanons to remember Aquino and the 1986 Edsa revolution narrative.

“Ninoy Aquino was truly the hero needed by our people,” said former mayor and Senate president Aquilino Pimentel Jr..

Pimentel, who fought the Marcos dictatorship, recalled when Aquino, who was in exile in the US, chose to return to the country despite the great risks.

“He did not have to come home  and put his  life at risk in the hands, as it were, of the dictatorial  regime of Marcos, but he did,” Pimentel said.

Aquino’s return and subsequent assassination served as a spark and factored in the 1986 revolution three years later.

“His heroic act   teaches us. among other things, that an individual who truly seeks the general welfare especially in matters of freedom and democracy can make a difference,” he said.

Pimentel appealed to citizens to remember what Aquino did and pass the Edsa narrative to the youth and future generations.

“I can only hope that the example of the heroic sacrifice that Ninoy did for our people is not lost to present and the future  generations of our citizens,” he said.

Mayor Oscar Moreno, for his part, said Aquino’s assassination on Aug. 21,  1983 was spelled the downfall of the then strongman Ferdinand E. Marcos.

“The series of crisis that hit the country and the   region since 1983 in both the economic political fields had finally led to the unprecedented ‘People Power’ bloodless revolution in 1986 that toppled the dictator,” Moreno said.

Aquino’s death, he said, should be remembered as the start of the restoration of democracy in the country.

“As we remember Ninoy, we must remain steadfastly committed to the ideals that he embraced,  as well as the aspiration that the Edsa People Power Revolution espoused,” Moreno said. (nitz arancon)