By Azer N. Parrocha
MANILA, Feb. 22 (PNA) — The EDSA People Power Revolt anniversary celebration belongs to the Filipino people and should not be affected by problems of some of its key players 28 years ago, a Malacanang official said Saturday.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte, in an interview on state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, raised the issue following rumors that some key players during the 1986 revolt might not be invited to this year’s celebration after being charged with plunder.
Then Defense Minister and now Senator Juan Ponce Enrile was mentioned as among the key EDSA players allegedly linked to the P10-billion Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel scam.
In February 1986, Enrile withdrew support for then President Ferdinand Marcos and recognized Mrs. Corazon C. Aquino, widow of the assassinated former Senator Benigno S. Aquino Jr., as the duly-elected president in the Feb. 2, 1986 snap elections.
“EDSA will never be affected by the problems being faced by some of the players who are part of it because primarily EDSA belongs to the people,” Valte stressed.
She added that more importantly, this year’s celebration calls on bringing Filipinos together to help one another “in their hour of need.”
She also said that more than just honoring the key players of the historical event, it is also to recognize people “who quietly kept the spirit of People Power alive.”
This year, the traditional “Salubungan” or commemoration of the meeting between the civilian and military participants of EDSA People Power will be held at the Cebu provincial capitol grounds on Tuesday.
The original plan was to hold the event in Malacanang but it was shelved after President Benigno S. Aquino III decided to bring the celebration closer to the people in the calamity-affected areas.
Cebu was chosen because it served as a defensive wall of the opposition to the dictatorship during the martial law regime and it was also where the late President Corazon Aquino stayed when the military broke ranks from then President Marcos. (PNA)