SPD starts preparations for Ninoy death anniversary

Police in southern Metro Manila have started preparations to secure the 26th death anniversary of former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. this coming Friday. Radio dzBB's Manny Vargas reported that Southern Police District head Chief Superintendent Jaime Calungsod particularly ordered preparations in the cities of Makati and Parañaque. Calungsod said he expects the anniversary to be peaceful, with many Filipinos likely to attend the activities lined up for the occasion. He said he has ordered police under him to coordinate with the Aquino family and with organizers of activities for the former senator's death anniversary. On Aug. 21, 1983, the former senator was gunned down at the tarmac of the Manila International Airport. His death triggered a series of protests that led to the EDSA-1 revolution in 1986 that ousted then president Ferdinand Marcos and catapulted Aquino's widow Corazon to the presidency. The SPD expects many people to troop to the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City where the former senator and his wife, former President Corazon Aquino, are buried. Several Filipinos continue to troop to the cemetery to pay their last respects to Mrs. Aquino, who died August 1 after battling colon cancer for more than a year. The former Philippine leader was buried there last August 5. On the other hand, Calungsod said he expects people to flock as well to Makati City where a monument to former Senator Aquino was erected. - GMANews.TV