- President Duterte urged citizens to get inspired by Ninoy Aquino’s sacrifice.
- President Duterte challenged Filipinos to be like Ninoy.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte stated that the nation needs more citizens like the former Senator Benigno Simeon Ninoy Aquino Jr.
A known Marcos-ally, Duterte said more citizens should be like Ninoy who steered the nation to a brighter future.
“In this time of real and lasting change, we need more citizens like him (Aquino) so we can steer our country towards the direction where a brighter and better future awaits us all.”
But the President also said that this can be achieved only, “if we work together to institute meaningful reforms that will put an end to the many social ills that have obstructed our path towards becoming a mature and stable democracy.”
In his commemoration speech Tuesday, August 21 for the 35th death anniversary of former Senator Aquino‘s martyrdom, President Duterte also urged Filipinos to reflect on Ninoy’s sacrifice for the country.
He said Ninoy’s death 35 years ago gave birth to the freedom that this nation is enjoying at this time.
“Let us take this opportunity to reflect on his sacrifice as we honor 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 marginalized.”
Ninoy Aquino as many have fondly called him, was assassinated at the then-Manila International Airport on August 21, 1983, after returning from a three-year exile in the United States of America.
His death became the tipping point of massive protests against the administration of then-dictator President Ferdinand E. Marcos. His death was the impetus that eventually led to the world-renowned, bloodless EDSA People Power revolt in February 1986, and has catapulted his widow Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino to sworn into office as the Philippines’ 11th President.
Duterte’s latest message came off the heels of his previous statement preferring the late dictator’s son the former senator,Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Romualdez Marcos Jr., who lost to Maria Leonor ‘Leni’ Gerona Robredo, an attorney and social activist who was declared the 14th and current Vice President of the country.
