PNoy takes jabs at 'corrupt' people in the judiciary at EDSA-1 anniv rites
President Benigno Aquino III on Saturday took jabs at what he called "corrupt people" in the judiciary during his speech at the 26th anniversary of the EDSA-1 People Power revolt, saying it is high time Filipinos take action to reform the justice system.
Aquino, in his speech marking the anniversary of the revolt that catapulted his late mother Corazon to the presidency, said the country is now at a crossroads where one path leads to a continued corrupt system of justice.
“Kasalukuyang humaharap ang ating bansa sa isang sangandaan. Sa isang direksyon ang (masukal) na daan kung saan hawak ng maimpluwensya ang timbangan ng katarungan at ang mga (nagpapasirko) sa batas ang nakikinabang. Sa kabila ang tuwid na daan kung saan malinaw ang patakaran. Walang kinikilingan ang hustisya at pinapanagot ang may kasalanan," he said.
He also said Filipinos should now act and not keep silent as they did during Martial Law.
“Tandaan lang po natin, nangyari ang Martial Law dahil matagal nanahimik ang Pilipino at nagawa lang nila pumalag nang nakita malubha ang naidudulot nitong pagdurusa sa ating bansa. Sabi nga noong araw, kung hindi ka kikilos, sino ang kikilos, kung hindi ngayon kailan pa," he said.
Aquino also said that while now there is freedom of speech, there are other freedoms still to be won, including those from poverty – and injustice.
He said that while the EDSA revolution did not mean instant freedom from such woes, it provided the people with a sense of which direction they want to go.
“Wala nang bumubusal sa radyo at telebisyon, walang kumokontrol sa kung ano ang mababasa sa diyaryo at peryodiko. Subali’t malaya na ba tayo sa gutom? Malaya na ba tayo sa kahirapan? Malaya na ba tayo sa mga tiwaling sadyang pinaglalaruan ang ating sistemang pangkatarungan?
"Ang rebolusyon sa EDSA ay nagsilbing lunsaran sa kung saan natin gusto tumungo bilang isang bayan," he said.
In past weeks, Aquino had taken jabs at Corona, who his predecessor Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appointed as Chief Justice shortly before her term ended in 2010.
Corona was impeached in December 2011 and is now facing an impeachment trial by the Senate acting as an impeachment court.
“At hanggang sa kasalukuyan, hindi pa rin tapos ang rebolusyong ito. Kalayaan mula sa gutom, kalayaan mula sa kahirapan, kalayaan sa walang pagkakataong umasenso, kalayaan mula sa kawalang katarungan. Ito ang ipinaglalaban natin ngayon," Aquino said.
Aquino also called for swift action, lest it be too late.
“Kumilos na tayo ngayon bago mahuli ang lahat. Kumilos na tayo ngayon upang mapabilis natin ang pag-iwan sa dilim na nakalipas. Kumilos na tayo ngayon upang sa lalong madaling panahon, matanglawan ng ating lahi ang mas maliwanag na bukas," he said.
The President also said that if people want to maintain the old rotten system, [then...] "go ahead and stay silent. But if you want to change our system, act now and right the wrongs. It is our obligation to nurture the seeds of democracy planted by the millions of Filipinos who took part in the 1986 EDSA revolt.”
Revolution not yet finished
In his speech, Aquino reiterated the "revolution" is not yet over, as there are still battles to be waged against hunger and poverty.
He also admitted the EDSA revolution would be useless if it does not bring the much-needed reforms to the people.
“Maliwanag po, ang himala sa EDSA ay mapupunta sa wala kung hindi natin ito pagyayamanin at pagkaiingatan. Walang silbi ang demokrasya kung walang nangyayari na pagbabago sa nakararam," he said.
For now, he said the government is continuing with its conditional cash transfer program, which he said aims to benefit three million Filipino families before the end of 2012.
He also cited “progress” in the economy that he said had been cited by international credit rating agencies.
All these are due to the dedication and sacrifice of Filipinos under his watch, he said.
“Hindi madadaan sa tsamba ang ganitong mga tagumpay. Di suntok sa buwan ang ganitong tanda ng kaunlaran ... Ang tawag dito dedikasyon, ang tawag dito malasakit, ang tawag dito tuwid na daan," he said.
Salubungan, pledge of commitment
Saturday morning’s rites also featured the “Salubungan” that commemorated the meeting of soldiers and civilians at the portion of EDSA where the People Power Monument now stands.
At the Salubungan, a helicopter dropped yellow confetti on participants.
Local officials made pledges of commitment that they wrote on a white board “Anong taya mo para sa Pilipinas natin (What is your stake for our Philippines)?”
Ending the program at the People Power Monument was the singing of “Bayan Ko” led by singer Freddie Aguilar.
Aquino then left for Manila to lead the unveiling of a statue of the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, who also played a vital role in the 1986 popular uprising. — LBG, GMA News
Aquino, in his speech marking the anniversary of the revolt that catapulted his late mother Corazon to the presidency, said the country is now at a crossroads where one path leads to a continued corrupt system of justice.
“Kasalukuyang humaharap ang ating bansa sa isang sangandaan. Sa isang direksyon ang (masukal) na daan kung saan hawak ng maimpluwensya ang timbangan ng katarungan at ang mga (nagpapasirko) sa batas ang nakikinabang. Sa kabila ang tuwid na daan kung saan malinaw ang patakaran. Walang kinikilingan ang hustisya at pinapanagot ang may kasalanan," he said.
He also said Filipinos should now act and not keep silent as they did during Martial Law.
“Tandaan lang po natin, nangyari ang Martial Law dahil matagal nanahimik ang Pilipino at nagawa lang nila pumalag nang nakita malubha ang naidudulot nitong pagdurusa sa ating bansa. Sabi nga noong araw, kung hindi ka kikilos, sino ang kikilos, kung hindi ngayon kailan pa," he said.
Aquino also said that while now there is freedom of speech, there are other freedoms still to be won, including those from poverty – and injustice.
He said that while the EDSA revolution did not mean instant freedom from such woes, it provided the people with a sense of which direction they want to go.
“Wala nang bumubusal sa radyo at telebisyon, walang kumokontrol sa kung ano ang mababasa sa diyaryo at peryodiko. Subali’t malaya na ba tayo sa gutom? Malaya na ba tayo sa kahirapan? Malaya na ba tayo sa mga tiwaling sadyang pinaglalaruan ang ating sistemang pangkatarungan?
"Ang rebolusyon sa EDSA ay nagsilbing lunsaran sa kung saan natin gusto tumungo bilang isang bayan," he said.
In past weeks, Aquino had taken jabs at Corona, who his predecessor Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appointed as Chief Justice shortly before her term ended in 2010.
Corona was impeached in December 2011 and is now facing an impeachment trial by the Senate acting as an impeachment court.
“At hanggang sa kasalukuyan, hindi pa rin tapos ang rebolusyong ito. Kalayaan mula sa gutom, kalayaan mula sa kahirapan, kalayaan sa walang pagkakataong umasenso, kalayaan mula sa kawalang katarungan. Ito ang ipinaglalaban natin ngayon," Aquino said.
Aquino also called for swift action, lest it be too late.
“Kumilos na tayo ngayon bago mahuli ang lahat. Kumilos na tayo ngayon upang mapabilis natin ang pag-iwan sa dilim na nakalipas. Kumilos na tayo ngayon upang sa lalong madaling panahon, matanglawan ng ating lahi ang mas maliwanag na bukas," he said.
The President also said that if people want to maintain the old rotten system, [then...] "go ahead and stay silent. But if you want to change our system, act now and right the wrongs. It is our obligation to nurture the seeds of democracy planted by the millions of Filipinos who took part in the 1986 EDSA revolt.”
Revolution not yet finished
In his speech, Aquino reiterated the "revolution" is not yet over, as there are still battles to be waged against hunger and poverty.
He also admitted the EDSA revolution would be useless if it does not bring the much-needed reforms to the people.
“Maliwanag po, ang himala sa EDSA ay mapupunta sa wala kung hindi natin ito pagyayamanin at pagkaiingatan. Walang silbi ang demokrasya kung walang nangyayari na pagbabago sa nakararam," he said.
For now, he said the government is continuing with its conditional cash transfer program, which he said aims to benefit three million Filipino families before the end of 2012.
He also cited “progress” in the economy that he said had been cited by international credit rating agencies.
All these are due to the dedication and sacrifice of Filipinos under his watch, he said.
“Hindi madadaan sa tsamba ang ganitong mga tagumpay. Di suntok sa buwan ang ganitong tanda ng kaunlaran ... Ang tawag dito dedikasyon, ang tawag dito malasakit, ang tawag dito tuwid na daan," he said.
Salubungan, pledge of commitment
Saturday morning’s rites also featured the “Salubungan” that commemorated the meeting of soldiers and civilians at the portion of EDSA where the People Power Monument now stands.
At the Salubungan, a helicopter dropped yellow confetti on participants.
Local officials made pledges of commitment that they wrote on a white board “Anong taya mo para sa Pilipinas natin (What is your stake for our Philippines)?”
Ending the program at the People Power Monument was the singing of “Bayan Ko” led by singer Freddie Aguilar.
Aquino then left for Manila to lead the unveiling of a statue of the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, who also played a vital role in the 1986 popular uprising. — LBG, GMA News
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