Sen. Francis Pangilinan said commemorating the assassination of Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. should go beyond remembering his sacrifice and what he fought for.
According to Pangilinan, Filipinos should also take action and carry on Aquino’s fight, since greed for power, abuses, and human rights violations remain prevalent today.
“Kaya naman ngayong araw, hindi sapat ang pag-alala lamang. Kailangang kumilos. Sama-samang tumindig ang malawak na hanay ng mga Pilipino. Papanagutin ang mga mapang-abuso. At higit sa lahat, ilagay natin ang kapakanan ng bawat Pilipino higit sa anumang personal o pulitikal na interes,” Pangilinan said in a statement.
He said that every August 21, which marks Aquino’s assassination, he always goes back to asking how far Filipinos are willing to fight for the country.
He noted that Aquino returned to the Philippines to fight the Marcos dictatorship despite the danger this posed to him, because helping the country was more important to him.
Aquino’s sacrifice paved the way for the 1986 EDSA People Power revolution that ousted Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and restored democracy, he said.
But Pangilinan also said Aquino dedicated his life not just to fighting the dictatorship, but also to freeing the country from hunger, poverty, oppression by powerful countries, and false information.
This is why honoring Aquino should not be limited to remembering his deeds or visiting his monument, he said.
“Hindi pa tapos ang laban, pero patuloy tayong lalaban. Iyan ang pinakamagandang parangal na maisusukli natin sa kanya,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila De Lima said Aquino “remains a beacon of courage, heroism, and an indomitable spirit in fighting for justice and democracy.”
De Lima said it is important to remember Aquino’s sacrifice and continue his fight amid disinformation, historical revisionism, propaganda, corruption and other challenges to truth and accountability.
She said Aquino stood up for the country and fought for what is right up to the very end.
“Patuloy nating ipakita – ngayon, bukas at palagi – ang Pilipino at ang Pilipinas ay karapat-dapat ipaglaban at matamasa ang tunay na hustisya at demokrasya,” she said.