OF UNITY / THIN CROWD AT EDSA RITES
MANILA,
FEBRUARY 26, 2012 (INQUIRER) By
DJ Yap - Former president Fidel V. Ramos used the occasion of the 26th
anniversary of the People Revolution on Saturday to take a swipe at the warring
top judicial and executive officials of the land as evidenced in the impeachment
trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.
"This anniversary is supposed to be a day of coming together. But that is
what is missing in our country today… because our co-equal, powerful branches of
government are so divided," he told reporters after the program at the People
Power Monument in Quezon City.
"That's why now what we need is cooperation of all Filipinos and that's
something that won't be attained just by impeachment," added Ramos, one of the
key players in the original People Power revolt. "Because there are still
beggars, there are still starving people and there are still jobless people,
impeachment will not solve the problem of poverty, iniquity, and lack of jobs
and a declining economy."
He said the disunity in government was not in keeping with the oneness that
characterized the People Power Revolution when Filipinos toppled the
dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos through a largely peaceful uprising.
"I think that's not the message of Edsa during our time," Ramos said,
referring the wide avenue where the People Power multitudes camped out for a few
days.
"After Edsa, we experienced change. We restored democracy during the time of
Cory.
And during my time [as president], I signed a final peace agreement with
rebels like Senator Gringo Honasan and the Moro National Liberation Front under
Nur Misuari. We completed that in 1995-1996," he said.
Saturday's celebration was the first time in years when many key figures from
the original revolution appeared, including Ramos, Senate President Juan Ponce
Enrile and Senator Gregorio Honasan.
Ramos and Enrile, then Marcos' defense minister, triggered the popular
uprising by appealing for public support after a mutiny led by them failed to
oust the dictator, who by then had been in power for 20 years. Honasan, who led
a number of failed coup attempts against the government of president Corazon
Aquino, was then an aide to Enrile.
[PHOTO - THEN DEFENSE MINISTER ENRILE AND GENERAL FIDEL
RAMOS]
People Power veterans reenacted the "Salubungan," or the fateful meeting of
civilians and military troops at the height of the 1986 revolt.
From the gates of the Corinthian Gardens subdivision, former senator Agapito
"Butz" Aquino led the civilian contingent, which marched on the short stretch of
Edsa toward the People Power Monument, where the main program was held.
The civilians were met by the military group led by Ramos, who marched from
Gate 3 of Camp Aguinaldo, the headquarters of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines, along with hundreds of military and police troops in uniform.
Two armored vehicles, each festooned with yellow flowers, joined the
procession with uniformed soldiers.
Many of them clad in yellow shirts, government employees, church workers,
civic leaders, boy scouts and students assembled in front of the monument.
[PHOTO - 'SALUBUNGAN' SA EDSA]
In attendance were President Aquino, Vice President Jejomar Binay, former
President Joseph Estrada, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Defense Secretary
Voltaire Gazmin, AFP Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Jessie Dellosa and
Philippine National Police Director General Nicanor Bartolome.
Also seen were Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, Executive Secretary Paquito
Ochoa, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma,
Sen. Vicento Sotto III, and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chair
Francis Tolentino.
A helicopter flew overhead and sprinkled the crowd with yellow confetti,
drawing cheers and applause. Some of the confetti became compacted in clumps
that dropped like bricks, nearly hitting a group of reporters in the media area.
Later, more showers of yellow strips of paper burst from confetti cannons,
rendering a yellow mist-like effect that drew gasps and prompted many in the
crowd to take snapshots.
Some 2,000 anti-riot troops were deployed to secure the festivities, which
started at past 6 a.m. with Mr. Aquino's arrival.
The "Salubungan" is a symbolic representation of the time the military
leadership joined forces with civilian groups and broke away from the Marcos
rule to side with opposition leader Corazon Aquino.
Folk singer Freddie Aguilar ended the festivities with an impassioned
rendition of the People Power anthem "Bayan Ko," which anti-Marcos activists
sang in demonstrations against Marcos for many years.
FROM THE MANILA TIMES
Bus owners:Govt forcing us to ferry 'hakot' crowd
Published : Saturday, February 25, 2012 00:00 Article Views : 1,917
Written by : Jaime R. Pilapil, Reporter
[PHOTO OF THE 'CROWD' AT EDSA RITES]
BUS operators on Friday accused Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo of ordering
all local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila and nearby provinces to send
busloads of people to celebrations marking the 26th anniversary of the People
Power revolution—an allegation that Malacañang denied.
The revolt toppled then-President Ferdinand Marcos and catapulted Corazon
Aquino, the mother of President Benigno Aquino 3rd, to Malacañang.
According to one bus owner, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal
from the government, he and other public utility bus operators were required to
be at the various city halls as early as 6 a.m. to bring people to Epifanio de
los Santos Avenue (Edsa), the epicenter of the uprising.
An LGU official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed what the
operator-informant said.
"We were told that the service would be for free," the bus owner said.
Bus operators had no recourse but to follow the order or else their buses
would not be allowed to enter city roads or even use the city's public
terminals, he added.
"We are celebrating Edsa to commemorate the expulsion of a dictator (Marcos),
but now we have a dictator telling us to bring people to Edsa for free," the
informant said, referring to President Aquino.
He added that politicians still practice the "hakot (loading or transporting
paid rallyists)" method to please their patron—Mr. Aquino—just like his
predecessors.
At Malacañang also on Friday, Palace deputy spokesman Abigail Valte denied
the allegation. "There is no truth to that information," she told The Manila
Times
FROM THE TRIBUNEThin crowd, drab Noy speech mark Edsa rites By Charlie V. Manalo 02/26/2012
A sparse crowd, failed promises and President Aquino's uninspiring speech
stood out yesterday in the 26th anniversary of the People Power revolt of 1986
where Aquino spoke more of his crusade to oust Chief Justice Renato Corona than
what he intended to accomplish in terms of improving the Filipinos' lives.
Amid the unabated oil price hike, power rate increases along with the prices
of other basic commodities and the rising unemployment, nothing is there to
celebrate in the 26th Anniversary of the first Edsa People Power, a militant
solon said yesterday.
"Nothing is celebratory about the 26th Edsa People Power anniversary. Nothing
is celebratory about incessant oil price hike, power rate hike and increases in
the price of basic good and commodities, and lack of basic social services for
the marginalized Filipinos," Gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus said.
The crowd was unusually thin for an Edsa celebration despite an earlier order
from Malacañang for government officials and employees to come out in force for
the event.
A participant noted that judging from the streamers and the placards carried
by most participants, the crowd was basically brought from Tarlac, the home
province of Aquino.
It was also noted that the crowd was more interested in folk singer Freddie
Aguilar singing Ang Bayan Ko rather than the speech of Aquino during the
ceremonies based on the applause they gave.
Ma. Socorro Diokno, the daughter of noted nationalist Jose Diokno, stressed
that people nowadays sees the revolt as an "easy, nice picnic." "We forget all
the pain, the sacrifice, all the persons who were killed, who were tortured. We
have never recognized them. We have never said 'This is who we are. This is who
we were," Diokno said.
Former Assemblyman Homobono Adaza also agreed with De Jesus' position saying
there indeed was no reason to celebrate the Edsa 1 People Uprising.
"They keep on saying democracy was restored through Edsa 1," Adaza told
reporters during the weekly news forum at Annabel's Restaurant in Quezon City.
"What democracy are they talking about?"
Adaza said the only democratic change Edsa 1 brought about is restoring the
freedom of expression. Aside from that, Adaza said nothing had changed.
"The only democracy we are enjoying now is on the democracy of expressing
ourselves. Other than that, nothing had changed. People are still suffering the
way they were suffering when (President Ferdinand) Marcos was still in power,"
Adaza said.
"These people are fooling us when the claim Edsa 1 restored democracy. Edsa 1
was not about that. Edsa 1 was about removing (President) Marcos from office and
installing Cory Aquino in power," said Adaza, himself a prominent opposition
leader during the Marcos days.
The Gabriela solon also noted that oil companies have jacked up the oil
prices six times already this year and is expecting another round next week,
which had further been aggravated by the recent power rate hike and LPG price
increase.
"This amid the scarcity of jobs and absent basic social services. This troika
is nailed to the poor women by the President's statement that Valued Added Tax
(VAT) will stay," said De Jesus.
"(And) Amid the hunger and poverty, I am asking the President, ano pa ang
itinaya mo para sa Pilipinas?" said the lady solon.
The party-list representative said militant women must renew their commitment
and strength to fight the perpetrators of poverty and hunger: the oil cartel
that continue to rake in huge profits at the expense of the poor, and the Aquino
government "which has been deaf to the plea of marginalized women to repeal
eVAT, Oil Deregulation Law and Epira."
Among the noted personalities who attended the event were former Presidents
Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada. Also present was Senate President Juan Ponce
Enrile, who along with Ramos played an important role in the success of Edsa
People Power I. Vice President Jejomar Binay also attended the anniversary rites
at the shrine.
Aquinosaid the spirit of the revolt must not falter as he urged the public to
do their part in battling the modern day challenges to free the country from
poverty, hunger, lack of economic opportunities and injustice.
Aquino also stressed in his speech the need to nurture the fruits reaped from
the peaceful revolution of the Filipino people 26 years ago to topple a
dictator.
The President underscored the need for the people's continued vigilance and
concern for the country and fellow Filipinos.
"If you will not act, who will? If not now, when? We should act now before
everything is too late, let us move now to hasten our journey away from the
darkness of the past," Aquino said.
The Chief Executive added that everyone is obliged to take care of the
democracy that has been won through the efforts of those who rallied in Edsa
that ended the decades-long of oppression.
Upon his arrival, the President was accorded full military honors and
welcomed by Vice President Binay, Senate President Enrile and Speaker Belmonte.
A pledge was written in a commitment wall by the members of the Union of
Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) chaired by Mindoro Oriental Gov.
Aurelio "Boy" Umali, the business sector, religious sector and the civic sector.
The President also witnessed an actual "Salubungan" rite involving the
military, non-government organizations, and representatives of the religious,
business, youth, government and basic sectors.
Anchored on this year's theme: "Ano ang Iyong Taya Para sa Pilipinas Natin?"
the Filipino nation celebrates the 26th year of the bloodless and peaceful
revolt known as the Edsa People Power Revolution, which catapulted a dictator
from several years of control and power.
According to the Philippine National Police (PNP) as early as 5 a.m.,
delegations from several areas in Metro Manila started gathering at the People
Power Monument. Many of the delegations wore yellow shirts and caps, while some
wore yellow-themed accessories.
The early arrivals included delegations from Taguig and Caloocan Cities.
Other delegations carried streamers indicating where they came from. Balloons
marking the occasion were also placed at the People Power Monument area.
On the other hand, Presidential Security Group personnel spread out at areas
near Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo.
A PNP contingent also proceeded to the area early Saturday morning to prepare
for the traditional "Salubungan."
The 1986 revolt ousted strongman former president Ferdinand Marcos after
thousands of Filipinos gathered at a stretch of road named Edsa to show support
to then Enrile and Constabulary head Ramos.
The revolt lasted for four days and later on Corazon Aquino was installed as
the president.
The PNP has deployed at least 2,000 personnel to maintain security for the
event.
Aside from the 2,000 police officers that manned checkpoints and patrol the
area where commemoration rites was held, several more policemen has participated
in the traditional "Salubungan," a re-enactment of the 1986 bloodless uprising
that toppled the 21-year dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos.
Director Alan Purisima, head of the National Capital Region Police Office,
said sufficient policemen were deployed to ensure the safety of thousands of
people that graced the affair.
Purisima who placed the entire Metro Manila on heightened alert said that the
alert level in Metro has not been lowered since December.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for their part also deployed at
least 500 personnel including plainclothes soldiers, to maintain security and
order.
According to AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., aside from
security and intelligence personnel, the military also deployed members of its
Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) unit and medical teams.
Burgos said the military is on alert despite the absence of specific threat
against the scheduled activities.
As part of the anniversary celebration of the Edsa People Power I, the Aquino
administration made a symbolic turnover of 21,800 housing units to AFP and PNP
personnel in Trece Martires City in Cavite yesterday.
"When I speak before students, they don't know anything about Martial Law.
Nobody talks about it. It is not being taught in our schools. We are taught the
wrong things about Edsa. We are not taught the values and the virtues of
fighting for your principle of doing what is right. We're just taught of 'Let's
just go and have a picnic and sing a nice song'. Is that really what Edsa is all
about?" Diokno said. Gina Peralta-Elorde and Sharon Galon,
Jireli Gem Cabria, Trainees, PCU
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
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