Moreno: Filipinos should always be reminded of EDSA Revolution that toppled dictatorship

GMA, Cavite— The peaceful revolution that toppled the dictatorship of late president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. must be remembered, presidential candidate and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno said Thursday.

A day before the EDSA anniversary, Moreno said the Filipino people should be proud of those who risked their lives to join the revolution that ended the two-decade Marcos regime.

“That should continue to be emulated sa ating next generation. Ibig sabihin, bigyan natin ng halaga ‘yung pagsisikap ng sambayanang Pilipino kasi talaga namang makikita mo taumbayan ang nag-alsa at nagpatalsik sa diktadurya,” he said.

(That should continue to be emulated by the next generation. This means that we should give importance to the efforts of the Filipino people who rise up to oust the dictatorship.)

“So it is the people… because of that situation, naging pamantayan tayo ng mundo.. ‘Yung peaceful revolution, kaya dapat lagi natin ipaalala ‘yun,” he added.

(So it is the people... because of that situation, we became the world standard with regards to peaceful revolution so we should always remind people of that.)

Moreno also said those who committed abuses and crimes before the revolution must be brought to justice.

The Manila mayor previously vowed to go after every family that has taken advantage of the Filipino people if he wins the elections.

“Ngayon, kung meron man mga nag-abuso, gumawa ng mga krimen nung mga panahon na ‘yun, bago mag-rebolusyon, dapat papanagutin din natin sa batas. Hindi natin hahayaan na para bang balewala na lamang,” he said.

(Now, if there were those who committed abuses, committed crimes during that time, before the revolution, we should bring them to justice. We can't let them be.)

Based on the records of the Human Rights Victims Claims Board, there were 11,103 victims of human rights violations during martial law.

Of this, there were 2,326 victims of killings and enforced disappearance, 1,467 victims of psychological, mental, and emotional torture, and 238 victims of rape and forced abduction among others.

“Whether it is abuse in power, or corruption, or maybe up to the point na mga pumatay sa mga tao nung araw, so para matahimik din naman ang mga kaluluwa nung mga biktima, dapat managot 'yung dapat managot sa ilalim ng batas,” he said.

(Whether it is abuse in power, or corruption, or maybe up to the point that they killed people during those days, so to bring peace to the souls of the victims, the perpetrators must be held accountable.)

Moreno made the remark when sought for comment on the upcoming EDSA anniversary and his fellow presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the son of the late dictator.—AOL, GMA News