Duterte to Pinoys: Emulate Ninoy's courage and patriotism in face of pandemic

President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday called on Filipinos to emulate the heroism of the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. especially as the country is facing the COVID-19 pandemic.

In his message commemorating the 37th anniversary of Aquino's assassination, Duterte urged Filipinos to "emulate Ninoy's courage and patriotism so we may all be heroes through acts of discipline, goodwill and social responsibility."

Duterte said Aquino's "life, work and impact on governance have uplifted the lives of many, especially the oppressed and marginalized."

In the same message, the President also called on Filipinos to support the government amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I call on everyone to cooperate and work with the government so that we may keep ourselves, our families and our communities safe,” he said.

“May we also generously share our resources to those who have less in life during these trying times.”

Aquino, whose wife, Corazon, and son, Benigno III, also became Philippine presidents, was shot dead on August 21, 1983 upon his arrival in what was then the Manila International Airport. 

Aquino was a critic of then-President Ferdinand Marcos. His death sparked a revolution that ended Marcos' decades-old regime and catapulted Corazon to the presidency. —Llanesca T. Panti/KBK, GMA News