Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 25) —It has been 36 years since millions of Filipinos marched along EDSA for a four-day bloodless revolution that led to the downfall of Ferdinand Marcos’ dictatorial regime.
For this year’s commemoration, presidential candidates shared what the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution mean to them.
In a statement, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said this historic event is a reminder, especially for the Filipino youth, that the power of the president comes from the people.
As the efforts of those who fought in the past are continuously recognized, he said Filipinos should also live within the present time and build a better future together.
“We will continue to recognize good history so that others will replicate it, and bad history we will continue to remind our people not to do the same,” Moreno said.
The Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer also committed to ensure that all those who perpetrated abuses and crimes during one of the darkest times in Philippine history would be held accountable.
Labor leader Leody de Guzman recalled it was the time when people from all walks of life joined a movement to overthrow a dictator.
However, he said so much was wasted after the successful uprising.
“Ang nanumbalik ay ang elitistang demokrasya na naghahari sa bansa bago ang Marial Law,” de Guzman said. “Mula kay [Presidents] Cory Aquino hanggang kay [Rodrigo] Duterte, tila nabalewala ang isinakripisyo ng aming henerasyon.”
[Translation: What was restored was the elitist democracy that reigned before Martial Law. From Presidents Cory Aquino to Rodrigo Duterte, it seems like what was sacrificed by our generation was squandered.]
The presidential hopeful pointed out that years after the peaceful February revolt, the country’s social ills persisted including cronyism, hunger, debt, and lack of public service, to mention a few.
As a leader who represents ordinary Filipinos, de Guzman said he is committed to address these problems once elected president.
In a statement on Friday, presidential candidate Senator Manny Pacquiao acknowledged that the revolution in 1986 put an end to Marcos’ atrocities.
However, he stressed that corruption continues to plague the country.
“Dumami pa ang mahirap dahil walang pagbabago sa gobyerno. Ang korapsyon ay namamayagpag pa rin,” he said.
[Translation: More Filipinos have been pushed to poverty because there’s no change in the government. Corruption is still rampant.]
Pacquiao then promised that under his leadership, there will be a “2022 Revolution Against Corruption”.
The presidential aspirant said those who would engage in corruption are bound to face life imprisonment. Issuing pardons will also be off the table, he pointed out.
