“In this time of real and lasting change, we need more citizens like (Aquino) so we can steer our country toward the direction where a brighter and better future awaits us all,” Duterte said in his Ninoy Aquino Day message yesterday.
“This can only be achieved if we work together to institute meaningful reforms that will put an end to the many social ills that have obstructed our path toward becoming a mature and stable democracy,” the president added.
Duterte called on the people to reflect on Aquino’s sacrifices that led to the freedom that Filipinos enjoy today.
“Let us take this opportunity to reflect on his sacrifice as we honour the courage and patriotism that Ninoy demonstrated during his struggle. May his dedication to his cause serve as a guidepost for our current leaders in government as they advance the welfare of our people, especially the oppressed and marginalised,” he said.
Aquino’s assassination at the then-Manila International Airport 35 years ago, upon his return to the country from a three-year self-exile in Boston, Massachusetts, triggered events that led to the overthrow of then-president Ferdinand Marcos.
Aquino’s wife, Corazon or Cory, replaced Marcos.
According to history books, Marcos’ 21-year regime was filled with human rights violations and alleged accumulation of billions in ill-gotten wealth.
A three-day “people power” uprising, dubbed as the first bloodless revolt in the world, led to Marcos fleeing to Hawaii on February 25, 1986.
Marcos’ family is well in power at present.
His wife, Imelda, is an Ilocos Norte lawmaker, his daughter, Imee, is Ilocos Norte governor and his son, Ferdinand Jr or Bongbong, was a former senator.
Bongbong is challenging the results of the 2016 vice presidential elections where he came up short against then-Camarines Sur Rep. Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo, who beat him by 263,473 votes.
The chairman of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), Dante Jimenez, also yesterday noted that justice for Ninoy remains elusive 35 years after he was assassinated.
In a statement, Jimenez said while suspects responsible for the killing of Aquino have been sentenced, the masterminds behind the murder remained unidentified.
“Who masterminded the orchestrated killing of Ninoy Aquino? Because only the soldiers and police security escorts were convicted by the court,” he added.
Despite having two Aquinos as president, Jimenez said, the real masterminds behind the assassination have not been identified.
He was referring to Cory Aquino and her son Noynoy. Cory replaced Marcos as president while Noynoy was Duterte’s predecessor.
“Justice remains elusive and still haunts the nation that is waiting for answers,” Jimenez said.
Family, friends and supporters remembered Ninoy on his 35th death anniversary.
Present at a Mass commemorating the occasion at Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City were Noynoy, Robredo, Senator Antonio Trillanes, former Social Welfare secretary Corazon Soliman, former chairman Etta Rosales of the Commission on Human Rights and former Education chief Armin Luistro.
The celebration, dubbed as “Mass for National Transformation” and presided by Msgr. Gerardo Santos, also remembered those who were killed under President Duterte’s war on drugs and those who were victims of martial law.
Hundreds of Aquino’s supporters also attended the Mass, clad in yellow shirts, some with yellow ribbons on their wrists or around their heads.
Civil society groups and supporters expressed their support for the “sacrifice and heroism” of the late former senator.
“We in Tindig Pilipinas recall the many deeds and wisdom of Ninoy as we confront the Duterte dictatorship,” the groups said in a statement.
“Ninoy told us to fight, to be firm, and to hold fast to our principles. Most important, Ninoy taught us our true value, that we are worth dying for,” Tindig Pilipinas added.
